Jurgen Klopp has admitted he prefers playing Alexis Mac Allister in a more advanced midfield position after the Argentine scored a spectacular strike in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United.
The World Cup winner restored the Reds’ lead with a stunning first-time effort in front of the Kop, to extend his recent scoring run to four goals from Liverpool’s last five matches. However, with Wataru Endo missing out as a precaution because of injury, the midfielder was utilised as a number six rather than his favoured number eight role.
Mac Allister started the season in the deeper position for the Reds, before Endo’s presence ensured he has been able to play further forward since the Japanese’s return from Asian Cup duty at the start of February.
And admitting the decision to play the Argentine deeper was only through necessity, Klopp was full of praise for Mac Allister
“I understand 100 percent that is coming now but he played a good game in the first half already,” he said when asked about the former Brighton man’s best position. “It was not about him being in the wrong position.
“You can play the game like this with a footballing six if you want, definitely. It probably makes even more sense, but all the movements around were then not exactly as they should be.
“If we talk about Macca, is he better as an eight or a six, there are two different subjects to talk about. One is his defensive part. That was obviously really good. People were probably doubting a little bit, can he be this kind of defensive player.
“For the other position, he could have had a similar impact. I prefer him in eight as well but we are not playing in dreamland. We had a problem in the position tonight and in the end it worked out.
“Yes, impact, we saw as well it would be helpful to have him between the lines, between the right lines, their last line. That’s why changed but then we changed back to double six and he was deeper again.
“I don’t know exactly when he scored, if it was from the double six probably. When we played 4-4-2, I think, but it was not from eight. But the impact he can have is massive from everywhere.”
Meanwhile, Klopp revealed he thanked Mac Allister’s father in the Anfield tunnel after the game as he again shared his delight at bringing the £35m midfielder to Liverpool.
