Alexis Mac Allister has received praise from Virgil van Dijk for the form he is displaying while playing the holding position for Liverpool, saying that he is performing at such a high level.
In an interview with TNT Sports, Van Dijk discussed the Argentinian’s adjustment to life at Anfield following his summer transfer from Brighton.
It seems as though Alexis Mac Allister had a difficult beginning in Merseyside. There was no denying that Liverpool’s decision to acquire him for £35 million appeared to be a major coup. Naturally, he played a significant role in Brighton’s success while it was on the south coast. He also contributed to Argentina’s World Cup victory the previous year.
Unfortunately for Mac Allister, he frequently starts as a deeper-positioned midfielder. For the Reds, the summer was a time of transition as players like Fabinho, Jordan Henderson, and James Milner all left the team.
The character does not precisely suit Mac Allister’s talents. And it would not surprise you in the least to see Liverpool prioritise the acquisition of a new holding midfielder during one of the upcoming transfer windows.
Virgil van Dijk lauds Alexis Mac Allister
Virgil van Dijk, however, has praised his new partner and stated that he truly enjoys playing with him.
He remarked, “Mac Allister, so good on the ball, without the ball,” to TNT Sports. He is plainly playing at the six position. It might not be his ideal situation. He is, nonetheless, performing at a very high level. And as a center-half, that’s obviously really essential to me as well.”
In the next window, it must be a top priority to sign another holding midfielder.
The fact that Mac Allister hasn’t had many opportunities to play the role he prefers is known to Liverpool fans. The problem is that Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai are both outstanding athletes. In particular, Szoboszlai makes a significant difference when he can manoeuvre in the last third.
This summer’s transfers by other teams serve as a stark reminder of how crucial a good holding midfielder is in today’s game. The Reds’ failure to discover one was therefore a mistake.
It was a bit of a surprise to sign Wataru Endo. And based on the few minutes he has had so far, it appears like he was added to add depth.
Despite all of that, van Dijk is unmistakably of the opinion that Mac Allister is excelling in the post.