Alexis Mac Allister sets UNWANTED record with one game still to play

Alexis Mac Allister set an unwanted record for Liverpool that no player has matched in the last eight seasons. The Argentine hasn’t had it easy.

Alexis Mac Allister was dribbled past four times against Aston Villa on Monday night, according to Squawka data. It was a difficult night defensively for the Reds, who struggled to control Unai Emery’s side.

But as Squawka point out, it’s actually been a problem this season. Mac Allister has been dribbled past 66 times across the Premier League campaign, with one game to play.

That’s the worst record of any Liverpool player across the last eight seasons.

So what does this actually say about the Argentine now that he has this unwanted record?

Alexis Mac Allister this season

It’s been a bizarre season for Mac Allister, really. He’s played most of it as a defensive midfielder, despite not really being one, and has been asked to do it in a Liverpool side that struggles defensively as it is.

Defensive midfielder is incredibly difficult to play in this team. That’s always been the case with a high-pressing, high-intensity team that leaves the holding player isolated.

On the one hand, it creates situations like this for Mac Allister. He’s not used to the position as it is, and it means the pace through midfield can trouble him.

On the other, things look fantastic when they go right. The two games with the most tackles won by a Liverpool player in the last three years both belong to Mac Allister. He won possession 11 times against Manchester United earlier this season, which matched the Premier League’s best.

What it all really points to is that Mac Allister isn’t a natural defensive midfielder but he does boast the skillset to make it work. That’s down to him being one of the most complete midfielders around. We had him down as the in-form Premier League player before the Reds’ from fell off a cliff.

But Liverpool can’t afford for him to be the sole holding player. Arne Slot’s 4-2-3-1 formation (presuming he takes it to Anfield) would eliminate that situation, admittedly, by utilising two deeper midfielders.

And that, given what we’ve seen from Mac Allister this season, will likely suit him perfectly.