Liverpool top both the Premier League and Champions League this season but Alex Mac Allister believes the Reds still have some way to go to transition into Arne Slot’s philosophy
Alexis Mac Allister has revealed the change Arne Slot has made to Liverpool’s midfield to allow him more freedom, and expects the Reds to get even better as they contintue to adjust to their new head coach.
The Anfield side have enjoyed an electric start to life under the Dutch coach after Slot replaced manager Jurgen Klopp over the summer. Liverpool have tasted defeat just once since the ex-Feyenoord boss’ arrival and won 15 of 17 matches in a record-breaking start for the club.
Mac Allister has been central to Liverpool’s efforts. The Argentina international has featured in every game under Slot thus far, and started in 14 of 15 matches across the Premier League and Champions League.
Slot has provided Mac Allister with greater licence to move forward, than he was afforded under Klopp. The side are required to get used to a new philosophy however.
“In terms of the change, perhaps with Jürgen I played as a lone five [holding midfielder],” said Mac Allister. “So, the position was very different. I was much more defensive than anything else.
“Nowadays, given we play with two fives, I can be a little freer and if we start with two sitting midfielders and one a little further forward, that changes things. For instance, when the ball goes out to the left full-back, I’m the one who can move further forward, and Ryan [Gravenberch] becomes the number five.
“So, the system has changed a little, but the main ideas are the same. I think perhaps the big change is in having that patience to have longer periods of possession and dominate games more and obviously that creates more chances.”
Despite leading both the Champions League and Premier League tables, Mac Allister reckons Liverpool still have some way to go under Slot. The 25-year-old revealed it had been a big change on and off the field since the Dutchman’s arrival and that the club remains in a transitional phase.
“I think we’re in that transitional period,” explained the former Brighton star. “We were used to being very direct and perhaps played more long balls and nowadays with the new coach, the idea is completely different, and we are working on being more patient, to have longer periods in possession so that the games aren’t as end-to-end so that we can dominate them.
“I think that was kind of the mistake we made in the Premier League game against Nottingham Forest, which cost us the match. But like I said, we are in a transitional period. Jürgen was here for eight years so it’s not so easy to change that playing style but that’s what we’re working on, and I think we’re doing it very well.
“I think we’ve all been really happy with the arrival of Arne and we all know how much he knows about football, so for us it’s great and we know that this is the journey we are on. I feel like there has been a big change, not just in terms of the managers, but in terms of the management team and the sporting director too. But to be honest, we are working really well.
“I feel there’s a lot of positivity within the club and we’re working fantastically well with the new manager. We can really see that he has great ideas, his mentality and what he gets across to us is important so we’re happy. Like I say, we’re still in this transitional phase of looking to get to where the manager wants us to be.”
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