It was only fitting that Alexis Mac Allister scored what went on to be the winning goal in Liverpool’s 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, securing the Reds’ record-tying 20th league title and their first since 2020.
Mac Allister’s thumping strike was yet another highlight-reel goal to add to his growing collection, reminiscent of the thunderbolts he’s unleashed against Fulham and Sheffield.
It was another emphatic reminder of just how crucial he’s been to Liverpool’s Premier League triumph.
The importance of experienced game-changers like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in Liverpool’s title run has been well documented, but the excellence of their midfield trio—made of Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch—still only in their second season together cannot be overstated.
These three were brought in as part of Jürgen Klopp’s vision to revamp Liverpool’s midfield; and while they showed flashes of quality during the German’s farewell season, questions remained about how they would fit into the squad under new manager Arne Slot.
Finding new roles
Slot has answered these questions and some, especially in the attacking threats that Mac Allister and Szoboszlai have turned into under his tutelage.
Before their arrival to the club, the pairing of Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott was Liverpool’s most potent midfield duo up front, combining for seven goals and assists during the 2022-2023 league season.
Now, for as much as Jones and Elliott have also progressed, these seem like rookie numbers—Macca and Szobo have recorded 19 G/As this season, underscoring the vitality of Liverpool’s new-look midfield.
Szoboszlai in particular has embraced a more advanced attacking role at Liverpool, ranking among the top five Premier League midfielders with 62 shots this season.
His growing responsibility in sparking the team's offense is a testament to Slot's increasing trust in him.
While the Argentine-Hungarian duo has delivered moments of dazzling attacking brilliance, Ryan Gravenberch has been the behind-the-scenes engine.
His defensive presence and ability to cover ground have allowed his midfield partners to shine further up the pitch, anchoring the unit with quiet efficiency.
Gravenberch, whose role in his first season under Klopp was far more undefined, has blossomed into a bonafide No. 6 under Slot, fulfilling his defensive duties with ultra-reliability as he’s appeared in all 34 of Liverpool’s league games this season.
The Dutchman has proven himself as a crucial player in regaining possession for Liverpool when the ball is lost in midfield, ranking among the top players in the Premier League in this area; his numbers would likely be even higher if Liverpool weren’t already so rock solid in possession.
But make no mistake about it either—while Gravenberch excels in defense, he is still incredibly adept with the ball on his foot.
While he may not have the goal contribution stats Macca and Szobo do, Gravy has established a trademark “turn” move this season, leaving pursuers in the dust as he advances the Liverpool attack forward.
Like Macca’s involvement in Liverpool’s title clinching game, Szobo picked up a pair of assists with Gravenberch picking one up himself; it was only right that the Reds’ midfielders had their fingerprints all over the game that delivered the biggest trophy in England back to Anfield.
As the real work of defending this title gets underway this summer, it’s without question that Slot will look for ways to continue improving a midfield whose quality is already well ahead of schedule.