ANALYSIS: Why Liverpool MISFIT Alexis Mac Allister is fighting to SAVE his reputation

Alexis Mac Allister was comparable to anyone not too long ago. Now does he even get into the Liverpool lineup?

Alexis Mac Allister was a revelation in Jurgen Klopp's team last season. Rewind back to April and he was probably the best midfielder in the Premier League.

In fact, the way he was scoring goals, keeping the team ticking over in possession and winning tackles had us asking if he was outright the best player in England's top flight.

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Now whether you believe he was or he wasn't, the point is that Mac Allister was Liverpool's star man towards the back end of Klopp's reign. He did everything in midfield, achieving feats we haven't seen since Steven Gerrard.

And yet, things haven't been the same under Arne Slot. Mac Allister is a good player in the middle under the Dutchman but he hasn't been playing like a gamechanging one.

And he actually faces quite the fight to get his old reputation back.

The Young Pretenders

This season has seen Ryan Gravenberch skyrocket his own reputation. In fact, his standing in the game is now where Mac Allister's was back in April.

He looks like a world-beater and while it could be a case of fantastic form to start a season, Gravenberch is entirely at home in Slot's system. The way he breaks the pressing lines has been a joy since the campaign kicked off and is now an incredibly important part of Liverpool's play.

This was then taken to the next level against Chelsea, with Curtis Jones stepping in for Mac Allister alongside Gravenberch. Now Liverpool had two midfielders looking to resist the press, burst through the lines, and constantly move the team forward.

It was fantastic to watch and as it turned out, match-winning. Gravenberch and Jones looked like a natural duo - one who had Slot's team playing the way it should.

Mac Allister hasn't quite given that feeling yet. He's good in the system and playing decently but is yet to put in a truly match-winning performance.

The biggest worry for him is that both Gravenberch and Jones are younger than him, too. They're improving as players (rapidly, I should add) and it's now a tough fight for Mac Allister to win.

If he wants to save that reputation he built last season, the Argentine needs to up his game and influence things more. Fail to do so and the younger pair could well leave Mac Allister in their dust.

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