As previously noted, Liverpool’s superb midfield was a driving force behind their triumphant run to the 2024–2025 Premier League title, and at the heart of it stood the Argentinian maestro Alexis Mac Allister—arguably the side’s most complete midfielder last season.
While Dominik Szoboszlai has built his reputation on a tireless work rate and Ryan Gravenberch has drawn praise for his defensive aptitude, Alexis Mac Allister offers a rare blend of qualities that allow him to influence every phase of play.
Whether threading pinpoint through balls, relentlessly pressing opponents, or unleashing his trademark worldie strikes, Macca has more than justified his claim to Liverpool’s No. 10 shirt.
Mac Allister’s performances hit their peak in April, when he was named Premier League Player of the Month—a fitting flourish to a title-winning campaign.
Ending the season in such sparkling form, he now looks poised to carry that momentum into the new campaign. After a standout year, the question is: what magic will the midfield maestro conjure this time around?
Wirtz’s arrival may slightly reduce Macca’s minutes (which isn’t a bad thing)
There’s no doubt that Liverpool’s marquee signing of the summer was Florian Wirtz, the 22-year-old midfielder who exudes talent and creativity every time he steps onto the pitch.
Wirtz was handed the start over Mac Allister in Liverpool’s biggest pre-season test—the Community Shield against Crystal Palace—and quickly justified the decision, setting up Hugo Ekitike’s opener within five minutes.
With Wirtz expected to start whenever fit, Arne Slot may rotate his other midfielders more often—a shift that could benefit Mac Allister by keeping him fresher across the campaign.
After the remarkable feat of appearing in 35 of Liverpool’s 38 league matches in 2024–25, a slightly lighter workload could give him valuable recovery time and help sustain his high-level performances deep into the season.
Macca has already proven he can handle a heavy workload—arguably standing out as Liverpool’s best player during their title run-in when other players seemed fatigued—but with the sheer volume of fixtures across the Premier League, Champions League, and domestic cups, even he would surely welcome more opportunities to rest between games.
Wirtz’s arrival could also push Macca to raise his game, as a fiercely competitive player like him will no doubt have something to say about any minutes taken from him.
Less assists, more goals?
Wirtz’s expected role as the team’s raumdeuter—the player most skilled at finding and exploiting space to create—may reduce Mac Allister’s minutes and impact his chances of surpassing last season’s five assists.
But could this shift also see Macca finding the net more frequently than before?
Every Liverpool fan knows the Argentine’s ability to strike the ball with incredible power.
So, while his box-to-box role might be scaled back this season, Arne Slot could deploy him as a deep-lying playmaker—ready to unleash thunderous shots from the edge of the box, yet disciplined enough to track back swiftly and thwart counter-attacks.
This role makes perfect sense, considering Macca led the Reds with 94 tackles last season while ranking as the second-highest scoring midfielder behind Szoboszlai—meaning it could brilliantly complement two of his strongest attributes.
Moreover, Mac Allister’s 2022/23 season with Brighton demonstrated he’s more than capable of reaching double-digit goal tallies; his 10 goals that campaign marked a career high and underscored his consistent scoring ability.
A future-defining season?
Mac Allister’s performances this season—whether a continuation of his outstanding form or a regression—could significantly influence his future, especially with reports linking him as a potential transfer target for Real Madrid and their new manager, Xabi Alonso.
If Mac Allister showcases his tactical versatility and excels alongside Florian Wirtz in their first full season together, Madrid may see him as an indispensable target.
Conversely, if he becomes frustrated by a significant reduction in playing time—should Wirtz and another midfielder like Szoboszlai thrive—he might start looking for a way out of Anfield.
This is all to say I’m still 100% confident Macca will give his all in a Liverpool shirt just as he did last season—but the hint of a possible move to Madrid has unsettled players’ form before (looking at you, Trent).
Final prediction
It will be fascinating to watch how Macca continues to establish himself among the world’s premier midfielders as Liverpool’s midfield grows stronger.
His rare combination of shooting, tackling, crossing, and other key attributes makes him vital to the team.
However, with several quality attacking midfielders competing for spots, Macca will need to keep elevating his game to secure a defined role.
This season, I predict the Argentine to increase his goal tally to eight while adding three assists.