Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been asked to rethink how best to use summer signing Alexis Mac Allister as the player produced another disjointed performance in Saturday’s 3-1 win over Wolves and was replaced at half-time.The Merseysiders have spent £145.2m on midfield reinforcements this summer, with World Cup winner Mac Allister the first new signing in a reportedly bargain-basement £35m move in from Brighton.
However, the 24-year-old has had a difficult start to his career at Anfield.
After seeing red on his home debut against Bournemouth – although the decision was later overturned following an appeal – Mac Allister was dragged off the field at half-time at Molineux on Saturday, with Liverpool lucky not to being only 1-0 down at halftime. .
Klopp has since admitted that Mac Allister was the catalyst for Liverpool’s truly poor first 45 minutes, suggesting the Argentine – who already had a yellow card – was happy to be substituted.
For example, there are extenuating circumstances for Saturday’s tired performance.
Andhaving only returned to Britain early on Friday morning after a high-flying match for Argentina against Bolivia, Klopp probably made a mistake in using Mac Allister against Gary O’Neil’s side from the start.
NowTony Cascarino believes there are other factors behind the Argentine’s poor performances at the Reds.And now that Klopp is trying to work out how best to organize his new midfield, especially with Dominik Szoboszlai quickly making an impression, the pundit believes Mac Allister is being asked to play out of position.
Assuch, he is believed to be responsible for Mac Allister’s poor start to his Liverpool career.
Cascarino assesses his poor performance at Molineux and admits he has great sympathy for the player who he believes must be playing far too deep.
“Liverpool were terrible in the first half and looked lackluster,” Cascarino told talkSPORT.
“I mentioned jet lag earlier, [Alexis] Mac Allister definitely suffered from jet lag.
Iknow he came back Friday morning and played for Argentina, but he looked legless, lifeless and unable to move around the field.“He was caught by the ball a lot in the first half.
“I wouldn’t want to play Mac Allister that deeply.He looks a bit like Thiago [Alcantara].
“Thiago is a fantastic footballer and when he plays for Liverpool and the game moves, I don’t want him to be the protection for the back four.
“And when he is very deep and he gets the ball, a bit like Casemiro.
“Mac Allister, his strength is not in tackling, so I think he will stay in that position, he will just take the ball from the back four and start using it.
“I think that created its own problem. I don’t want to see Mac Allister too often in a Liverpool shirtHowever, Mac Allister is undoubtedly a good player, having thrived as a number 8 for Brighton last season, contributing to 12 goals.He also plays for his country as number 8, with permission to go forward and join attacks.
However, at Liverpool, Liverpool are blessed with several attacking stars, meaning Mac Allister will be asked to guard the defense.
Clearlythe tactic isn’t working and makes him look like a bad signing, even though he absolutely isn’t.
Mac Allister, meanwhile, had no qualms about naming the two Liverpool stars he believes are among the strongest he has ever seen.
WhenGoal asked him to name Liverpool’s best player, Mac Allister said: “I would say Mo [Salah] or [Kostas] Tsimikas.
“And when asked to explain why he chose Salah, he added: “Oh yes. He is in the gym all day, so he is very strong”.
Salahhimself admitted to having two rooms in his house entirely dedicated to fitness.
Lastseason he said: “Two rooms in our house are dedicated to various fitness and bodybuilding equipment.
I can also do cryotherapy at home, there is a hyperbaric chamber.
I am constantly trying to improve my physical condition.
“It’s true that I like to say that my house looks like a hospital, [but] my wife doesn’t like it! [She] says I spend more time with my cars than with her! When I treat myself to a great restaurant in London, I prefer sushi.
Ieat pizza at most once a month.
Ilove burgers, but I almost never eat them because I feel heavy afterwards!”
