In Focus: Reds hungry for success after big Mac signing

Alexis Mac Allister is Liverpool's first signing of a pivotal summer transfer window for the Reds.

After failing to qualify for the Champions League, Jurgen Klopp is in desperate need of investment to compete with the likes of Manchester City once again.

In Mac Allister, 24, the Anfield boss has a new midfield weapon who can spearhead the rebuild and improve a department often blamed for the recent decline. 

We take a look at exactly what the Argentine World Cup winner will bring to Liverpool next term after joining for a reported initial fee of £35million.

Top talent

Liverpool have acquired a player who enjoyed a stunning 2022-23 campaign.

Mac Allister was Brighton's top scorer with 12 goals in all competitions, helping fire the Seagulls to unexpected qualifiication to the Europa League.

As such, Anfield legend Jamie Carragher is cautiously optimistic about the signing of the versatile midfielder. 

Champions League winner Carragher, 45, said: "He is certainly a good player, whether he ends up being a good signing as well we will see when the season starts.

"It looks like he can play every position in midfield, which will help Liverpool, but he looks a super talent."

Attacking edge

Mac Allister will bring a whole new dimension to Liverpool's engine room — and not just because of his goalscoring prowess. 

Since the start of the 2021-22 season, the South American has created more chances in the Premier League than any Liverpool midfielder (78).

As well as dazzling in a deep-lying playmaker role, the 16-cap international completed 63 take-ons, the same number as Luis Diaz and 35 more than Reds captain Jordan Henderson.

A player who is such a complete package offensively will only enhance the threat of Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota, Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez in more advanced roles.

Pragmatic skills

Liverpool should not lose anything from a defensive standpoint with Mac Allister in the side either.

Over the past two English top-flight campaigns, the midfield maestro has made more tackles than any Reds player (135).

Elsewhere, only Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold in Klopp's squad have won possession in the attacking third more times than their new No10 (47).

And in terms of possession won in the middle third, Fabinho (236) and Henderson (227) are only just ahead of Mac Allister (205). 

Those numbers suggest that while Liverpool's marquee recruit is not the quickest, he has the off-the-ball work ethic to meet the demands of Klopp's pressing system at Anfield.

Seal of approval

Klopp is well aware that his new addition has the all-round skills to improve the team.

He said: "We are adding a very talented, very smart, very technically skilled boy to our squad and this is super news, really it is.

"I do not think the football world needs me to say too much about Alexis' qualities because they are already pretty well known but it is clear that he is someone who can play in a number of positions in the midfield and is an all-rounder."

Transitioning from a smaller club to one of Europe's elite is never easy, though, so it may take a little bit of time before we see the best version of Mac Allister on Merseyside.