Alexis Mac Allister has struggled to find his best form this season, leaving Liverpool’s midfield lacking control. Jan Mølby discusses the Argentine’s impact ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
The start to the season has been emblematic of Liverpool’s wider struggles flashes of quality offset by a sense of inconsistency that has defined much of the early campaign.
The Argentine midfielder was instrumental in Liverpool’s Premier League title triumph last season, his calm authority and creative spark helping Arne Slot’s side dominate games through control and structure.
At his best, Mac Allister brought balance to Liverpool’s midfield: dictating tempo, finding space between lines, and knitting together defence and attack with the kind of composure that made the Reds’ engine room tick.
But this season, things haven’t quite clicked. After a disrupted pre-season and a series of minor injury setbacks, the £35 million signing has struggled to find rhythm, often looking a step short of the sharpness that defined his first year at Anfield.
He isn’t the only one. Liverpool’s start has been uneven, and the team as a whole has lacked fluency a problem that has made Mac Allister’s subdued performances stand out even more.
Without his usual influence, the midfield has at times appeared disjointed, and the control that was once their hallmark has been harder to come by.
For many, the hope is that the recent international break can serve as a turning point. Mac Allister’s two appearances for Argentina couldn’t have been more different, but his display in the 6-0 win over Puerto Rico in which he scored twice offered a reminder of what he can produce when in rhythm.
Liverpool will hope he brings that confidence back to Merseyside ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester United, a fixture that arrives at a delicate moment following three consecutive defeats across all competitions.
Jan Mølby, who knows all about the demands of controlling a Liverpool midfield, believes the team’s recent performances point to a lack of cohesion though he remains optimistic that the quality in the squad can spark an upturn. Speaking to Anfield Index, the Dane admitted that the Reds haven’t quite found their groove yet.
“The team are not quite gelling as well as expected yet,” Mølby said. “But the beauty of it all is that because we’ve got good players, or great players, you’ve got a chance, haven’t you? So it could happen out of nowhere. Having said all of that, I’m not convinced it’s about to happen.”
Mølby also singled out Mac Allister as one of the players whose form has had a tangible impact on Liverpool’s midfield structure.
“Then we get the midfield thing or the lack of control,” he continued. “And I do believe that’s got a lot to do with Alexis being in the form or not being in the form that we’re expecting. So we lose that kind of control that he gives us.
“So there are a lot of things to be sorted. But the beauty of it all is that because we’ve got good players, or great players, you’ve got a chance. It could happen out of nowhere. Having said all of that, I’m not convinced it’s about to happen.”
Mac Allister’s control and balance were vital ingredients in Liverpool’s title-winning formula, and without him at full sharpness, Slot’s midfield has looked less certain. Yet there remains a belief inside the club that the Argentine will rediscover his best and soon.
Whether or not he starts against United will depend on his fitness and training in the days leading up to the match. Slot has other options Florian Wirtz, for instance, has made a strong case to start in recent weeks but few players in the squad possess Mac Allister’s understanding of tempo and space.
If he is fit enough to feature, the openness of United’s shape under Rúben Amorim could provide exactly the kind of platform he needs. Amorim’s system, which prioritises aggressive pressing and forward momentum, can leave gaps in midfield the kind of spaces Mac Allister thrives in exploiting.
Finding those pockets and dictating play from them will be crucial if Liverpool are to regain control and reestablish their rhythm. “You always feel with this team,” Mølby said, “that something can click suddenly, because the players are too good for it not to.”
For Liverpool and for Mac Allister, Sunday’s clash offers more than just another three points. It’s a chance to reset, to rediscover the fluidity that defined last season, and to show that the heartbeat of their midfield still beats as strongly as ever.
