The Argentine midfielder’s workload has been quite demanding; perhaps he could use a break.
After beginning the season with a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool has had the best possible start to the 2023–24 season, winning four straight Premier League games.
It’s a huge relief for everyone connected to the Liverpool team after Jurgen Klopp endured a terrible year in which his team completely deviated from the intense, high-octane system that has been a hallmark of his successful English team and failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons.
The Reds’ midfield has been entirely redesigned in response to the depleted energy on display last season, and the early indications are undoubtedly encouraging. However, Klopp will now seek to foster the team’s togetherness and unity over the coming weeks and months in anticipation of another run at trophy-laden success.
Alexis Mac Allister, a midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion, was transferred to Liverpool by the Merseyside club to begin the summer spending. Although he has had a strong and active start to life at Liverpool, it might be in his best interest to sit out this week.
How are the Reds performing?
On the whole, Liverpool is playing pretty well. The team’s potential was shown by the season’s opening draw against Chelsea, but it also showed the defensive flaws that destroyed the club’s optimism the previous campaign.
It would be absurd to believe that the Reds would reach their pinnacle so soon after such a drastic change, but the early signs are encouraging, and the fact that Liverpool is currently on a four-match winning streak is exciting when looking ahead. Klopp worked hard to rid the team of the problems of last year.
Dominik Szoboszlai, the all-powerful midfielder who was described as “like a young Gerrard” by former England striker Tash Dowie, has been outstanding since moving from RB Leipzig.
Only the reigning champions and pacesetters Manchester City have allowed less goals in the top tier thus far than the ever-imperious Mohamed Salah, who has already scored twice and provided four assists in just five games.
Alexis Mac Allister’s performance is how?
Mac Allister, who gained notoriety as the star of a successful Brighton team last season and won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, had a standout performance and was praised by Gary Lineker for one “sumptuous” assist in Qatar.
Klopp, who started the ace against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday afternoon, said only that “he was done” after the player had a terrible game and was taken off early.
This does not diminish Mac Allister’s talent, though, as he had just finished playing at a very high altitude for his country in a match against Bolivia less than four days prior.
Couple that with his exhausting travel back to Liverpool from halfway across the world, and it makes sense why he wasn’t himself at Molineux.
Despite receiving a red card against Bournemouth that was later overturned, the 24-year-old has started all five of Liverpool’s Premier League games this season and has completed 86% of his passes from central midfield. He has also made 2.6 tackles and 5.4 ball recoveries per game, succeeded with 63% of his dribbles, and won 58% of his duels, according to Sofascore.
Couple that with two appearances for Argentina over the break, and it could be a good idea to hold off on the £150,000-per-week phenomenon for the time being, especially with Liverpool’s Europa League campaign’s first game approaching.
While Mac Allister is a skilled midfielder, Harvey Elliott, who has impressed this season despite not having received a starting position, might just be an appropriate alternative waiting in the wings.
Why should Liverpool start Harvey Elliott?
Elliott, who made 46 appearances last season across all competitions and joined Liverpool from Fulham at the age of 16, played a significant part. He scored six goals and was praised for his “superb” performances by Liverpool writer Matt Addison.
He has received praise from commentator Jamie Carragher this season for his “excellent” contribution as a substitute against Wolves, and after appearing in cameos in each of his previous games, his performances have earned him his first season start.
According to Sofascore, the £40k per week gem has completed 86% of his passes and won 60% of his duels. While it is still early, the latter statistic suggests an increase in physicality and effort from last term, when he won only 45% of his duels and was criticized for being “outmuscled” by writer Leanne Prescott.
Additionally, according to FBref, the 20-year-old midfielder has been among the top 14% of players in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for actions that result in shots, the top 13% for passes that advance, the top 5% for carry that progress, and the top 6% for blocks per 90.
While Elliott is by no means the sophisticated, all-encompassing ace Mac Allister is yet, he definitely possesses qualities to stand in for his South American counterpart. Mac Allister, in contrast, ranks among the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 16% for progressive carries, and the top 12% for successful take-ons per 90.
Elliott is probably going to start because the team has to go to Austria to play LASK on Thursday night. However, if Elliott performs well at the Raiffeisen Arena, Klopp might start using Elliott’s skills more frequently right away in the Premier League.
Mac Allister is without a doubt a top-notch midfielder who Liverpool signed, but he has so far played steadily but unspectacularly for Klopp’s team. While he is undoubtedly one of the club’s greatest midfielders, it may be time to switch things up.
Without a doubt, he will and should start the majority of Liverpool’s games this season, but Elliott has already made a strong impression coming off the bench and will be eager to show off his abilities more frequently after breaking through last season.