Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp accused of leaving Alexis Mac Allister ‘exposed’
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been left “exposed” in his early days at Anfield, according to Jose Enrique. The former Reds left-back says the Argentina star is being played out of position by Jurgen Klopp since his arrival.
Liverpool made Mac Allister their first signing of the summer in June. They activated a clause in his Brighton contract to complete a deal for just £35million.
He has started every Premier League match so far this season, often as the deeper member of the midfield three. Mac Allister made a name for himself at Brighton and at international level as a No 8 with an eye for goal.
Enrique has been frustrated to see the 24-year-old not play in his natural position. He says it has left Liverpool exposed defensively at times and he has called on Klopp to sign an out-and-out No 6.
Enrique told Grosvenor Sport: “For me, Alexis Mac Allister has been disappointing because he’s not been playing in his normal position for Liverpool since joining the club this season. He’s a number eight and has always been a number eight, and that’s why he’s being exposed in the number six position.
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“The problem with Liverpool is that they don’t have a starting number six at the moment, which is why he’s playing there. He’s not playing in his position, he’s not a number six, that’s the truth.
“Liverpool play a really high line and he’s not known for his defensive skills. Jurgen Klopp knows this too, but he needs to sign a player as a number six in order to put Mac Allister back in his number eight role.”
Klopp was asked what Mac Allister’s best position is at a press conference earlier this month. But he insisted he hasn’t even thought about it and is happy just playing him anywhere in the midfield.
The German replied: “No, we didn’t even look for his best position yet, we just use him. He’s a fantastic player. I love everything about him, super-smart, tactically and off the pitch as well.
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“So that’s really, really nice to work with him. If we as a team defend well, he can play definitely the six, definitely.
“Did I know that before? I had a guess, but I was not sure because I didn’t know exactly how all the other boys will do defending and because we defend more compact and better than we did in our bad phases last year.
“We have small spaces and then it’s really, really good because he sees the situations really well, and from there we have an extra footballer on the pitch and it’s really cool.
“But best position, he’s too young for me to know it already, he’s a midfielder, I can tell you that, he’s a midfielder – and I’m happy about having him.”
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