Reds' New No.10: Time For Him To Step Up
Time to See the Best of Alexis Mac Allister
The knock-on effect of a staggered summer of change has seen our new £38m Brighton signing, Alexis Mac Allister, begin the opening two games of the campaign as the reds holding midfielder.
The New Role of Liverpool’s £38m Signing
Though the World Cup winning star is more than adept at playing in this role, it is not something that plays to his best strengths, which probably led to his red card last weekend.
The Red Card Controversy and Wataru Endō’s Introduction
Though the sending off was unjust and later overturned, the moment was still created by the need for a better defensive instinct. There is no doubt that our new number 10 was guilty of a foul on the edge of the box, which with a yellow card would have represented an adequate punishment. In losing a player, the introduction of Wataru Endō was brought forward in order to bring stability to the ten-man Liverpool side. In the build up to our trip to Newcastle this weekend, the hope is that with our Japan captain retains his place, so that our 24-year-old Argentine can now start to dictate play.
Transfer Window Concerns
Much of the fan base is rightfully concerned with the lack of activity in the ongoing transfer window.
Jörg Schmadtke’s Performance Under Scrutiny
Only days remain for Jörg Schmadtke to improve his performance as the temporary Sporting Director. This is the man who Klopp pulled from retirement and started the summer splendidly by securing the wonderful services of the Hungarian captain, Dominik Szoboszlai. If further signings had materialised, then the tenure of the former VfL Wolfsburg Director of Football would have been deemed a success.
Incorrect.
Julian Ward did the Mac Allister deal.
Jorg will be gone in September and hopeful FSG put the coaches back in their box and rebuild the structure of the club properly. https://t.co/WMCKjA8435
— Dave Hendrick (@MrTwoFooted) August 15, 2023
The Role of Julian Ward in Key Signings
Unfortunately for all parties concerned, stagnation has developed, one which leads to a last week scramble to get bodies through the door. It is important to note that the brilliant signing of Brighton’s former midfield maestro was engineered by Julian Ward, as his last action for the club, not his temporary replacement.
The Desire for Midfield Control
In signing the former Argentinos Juniors player, there was clearly a desire from the coaching staff to add more control to the middle third of the pitch.
The Reliability Issue with Thiago Alcântara
Though we all love the ability and wizardry of Thiago Alcântara, the Spaniard is not someone we can regularly rely upon. It is notable that without he or Naby Keïta in the team for much of last season, that Liverpool struggled to maintain continual patterns of attacking play.
https://twitter.com/AnythingLFC_/status/1692267799895212237?s=20
Trent Alexander Arnold’s Hybrid Role and the Need for a Playmaker
In drafting Trent Alexander Arnold into the hybrid role (towards the end of last season), it was more of a bridging tool until a full-time playmaker could be secured. In Alexis Mac Allister, I believe we have unearthed a diamond that is set to take our on-ball efforts to a new level. The loss of the below players does mean that at least one more defensive midfield needed, however with Alexis and Dom now on board, I sense a huge bounce in our attacking output.
Supporters’ Expectations and Conspiracy Theories
With the season just a couple of weeks old, all supporters are still holding their breath with regards to how the new campaign unfolds.
The Role of FSG, Klopp, Lijnders, and Schmadtke
The conspiracy theories have been thrown about the related parties, including FSG, Jürgen Klopp, Pepijn Lijnders, and Jörg Schmadtke, all supposedly holding back the reds from achieving a successful transfer window. Regardless of any of that, it is undeniable that Mac Allister is set for a major role in what comes next and I look forward to seeing how he plays at St James Park on Sunday afternoon.
