In the middle of the first half of Liverpool's 3-1 win over Tottenham at Anfield, cheers for Alexis Mac Allister rang out again. That is a familiar sound in the 2024-2025 season, but rarely appeared last season when the Argentine midfielder's form declined.
Mac Allister is gradually regaining the image that once helped him become one of the important factors of Liverpool. After scoring and assisting in the victory against Tottenham to bring his team to the 4th round of the Carabao Cup, the 27-year-old midfielder continues to show his value in the system of Andoni Iraola.
Mac Allister's return takes place in the context that his future at Anfield was once questioned. Last week, the Argentine player revealed that Liverpool had allowed him to look for a chance to leave and did not offer a new contract.
I received news that the club could not offer me a new contract, which of course made me very sad. I saw Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch extend their contracts, which made me very happy because they deserved it, but also made me sad because I couldn't" - Mac Allister shared before the match against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
On the pitch, Mac Allister quickly gave the answer. He scored a beautiful goal against Atletico Madrid and less than a week later continued to score against Tottenham. This time, the Argentine midfielder made a delicate lob into the corner of the net after a combination with Rio Ngumoha.
After an unconvincing performance in the 0-0 draw with Fulham, Szoboszlai and Gravenberch both had to sit on the bench. Mac Allister was assigned to lead the midfield including two young players Trey Nyoni and James McConnell.
This trio played effectively, bringing the certainty that Liverpool's midfield sometimes lacked this season. Mac Allister not only completed the task of organizing the play but also assisted Cody Gakpo to score in the second half.
Gakpo also faced much criticism last season when his form declined under Arne Slot. The future of the Dutch striker was even questioned in the summer transfer window, when Tottenham and Man City were both said to be interested in him. However, Liverpool could not find a suitable replacement and the deal did not happen.
Like Mac Allister, Gakpo is showing signs of improvement under Iraola. This striker also had another assist in injury time, although Szoboszlai contributed greatly with a shot from a distance of about 30m.
Szoboszlai was once one of Liverpool's most outstanding players last season, but he also faced many difficulties in adapting to the new system. However, the Hungarian international's finishing ability is still an important weapon. Iraola especially appreciates this quality.
The 3 goals we scored were all very beautiful. The first 2 goals were also very important, but the third goal was a world-class goal. What is special about Szoboszlai is that before shooting, you always believe that he can score. With other players, you may think the ball goes a bit far, but with Szoboszlai, everyone thinks he can score" - Iraola said.
Liverpool did not have a perfect match. Tottenham ended their goalless streak with Conor Gallagher's header from a corner kick in the second half. Spurs also created some dangerous opportunities, forcing Giorgi Mamardashvili to show his talent.
However, Iraola still has a lot to be satisfied with. Nyoni and McConnell played well in midfield, Lewis Koumas was active in attack. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong also improved their performance, while Mamardashvili had some important saves.
