Jurgen Klopp hails Liverpool's 'difference-maker' who's exceeded his expectations

Jurgen Klopp has praised one summer signing at Liverpool who has exceeded expectations at the club. Alexis Mac Allister is now a vital player.

Alexis Mac Allister has received fantastic praise from Jurgen Klopp, who labelled his midfielder a 'difference-maker' in the Liverpool side. It's a testament to just how far the Argentine has come in his first season at Anfield.

Mac Allister arrived from Brighton, the team Liverpool host on Sunday, last summer. There was a fair amount of hype around the midfielder, though things started slowly.

That was partly because he was asked to play a holding midfield role - something Mac Allister isn't entirely accustomed to. Learning a new role in a new team; not exactly the easiest welcome.

But the 25-year-old has quickly developed into one of the most important parts of Klopp's team. That's led to wonderful praise from the boss.

“Alexis is exactly the player I hoped he would be; super-influential, super-smart, great guy," he said, per Liverpoolfc.com. "[He] loves playing for Liverpool as well, which is really important.

“He’s a rhythm-giver, he’s a difference-maker, [he] can control moments of the game. [He is] always there, always involved, nothing is too much for him, he’s really a top, top, top player.

“But we had that sense when we signed him and he fulfilled all our expectations and more.”

Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool

We certainly back Klopp here. Mac Allister has consistently improved over the course of the season to the point where he's a fundamental player.

That's why we named him as one of five players who could win Liverpool's Player of the Year award. Sure, he's an outsider for it but he's been important enough that a fine run of form over the next couple of months could swing it for Mac Allister.

Certainly, it's difficult to imagine a Liverpool team competing without him right now.