What’s Happened to Mac Allister at Liverpool? Analysing His Drop-Off

When Alexis Mac Allister arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2023, he was heralded as the missing piece of Liverpool’s midfield puzzle. Fresh from winning the World Cup with Argentina and a stellar season at Brighton, the 25-year-old seemed destined to become the heartbeat of Jürgen Klopp’s new-look engine room. Fast forward to the 2024-25 season, and the narrative has shifted. Whispers of a “drop-off” have replaced the early praise. But is this a genuine decline, a tactical mismatch, or simply a product of Liverpool’s evolving system under Arne Slot? Let’s dissect the numbers, the eye test, and the underlying factors.

The Numbers Don’t Lie: A Statistical Dip

The most glaring evidence of Mac Allister’s recent struggles lies in the raw data. During his first half-season at Liverpool, he was a creative hub, averaging 2.1 key passes per game and completing 87% of his passes in the final third. In the current campaign, those numbers have slipped to 1.3 key passes and a pass completion rate of 81% in advanced areas. More concerning is his expected assists (xA) per 90 minutes, which has dropped from 0.28 to 0.16—a nearly 43% reduction in chance creation quality.

His defensive contributions have also waned. While he was never a pure destroyer, his tackles per game have fallen from 2.4 to 1.7, and his interceptions are down by 30%. This suggests a player who is either less engaged physically or being bypassed more easily in the midfield battle. The most telling stat? Progressive carries—dribbles that move the ball toward the opponent’s goal—have plummeted from 3.1 per 90 to 1.9, indicating a loss of confidence in taking on defenders.

Tactical Shift: From Klopp’s Chaos to Slot’s Structure

The departure of Jürgen Klopp and the appointment of Arne Slot has been the single biggest variable. Under Klopp, Mac Allister thrived in a hybrid role that allowed him to drift between the left half-space and central areas. He was given license to roam, combine with Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz, and arrive late in the box. Slot’s system, by contrast, demands positional discipline and a more rigid 4-2-3-1 shape. The Argentine is now often deployed as the deep-lying playmaker alongside a more defensive partner, such as Wataru Endō or Ryan Gravenberch.

This change has stripped Mac Allister of his greatest weapon: timing. He is no longer the late runner into the penalty area—a role that produced five goals in his first 20 league appearances. Instead, he is tasked with dictating tempo from deep, a role that exposes his lack of elite pace and physicality. Against high-pressing teams like Arsenal or Manchester City, he has been caught in possession far too often, leading to dangerous turnovers. The creative spark that made him a fan favorite has been dulled by tactical constraints.

Key Tactical Differences Impacting Mac Allister:

• Positioning: From left-sided #8 to deeper #6/8 hybrid—less freedom to attack space.
• Passing lanes: Slot prefers shorter, safer passes to maintain possession; Mac Allister’s signature through balls have decreased by 40%.
• Pressing triggers: Klopp’s gegenpress allowed him to hunt in packs; Slot’s zonal press leaves him isolated in transitions.
• Partnerships: He no longer has the dynamic movement of Jordan Henderson or the box-to-box energy of Dominik Szoboszlai alongside him consistently.

Fatigue and the World Cup Hangover

Let’s not underestimate the toll of elite-level football. Mac Allister played a staggering 4,800 minutes across club and country in the 2022-23 season, including a deep World Cup run. The 2023-24 campaign saw another 4,200 minutes, with no proper summer break due to international duty. This season, he has already logged over 1,500 minutes by mid-November. The physical and mental fatigue is visible in his sprint data: his average top speed has dropped from 31.2 km/h to 29.8 km/h, and his high-intensity runs are down 18%.

This is not a case of a player “checking out.” Rather, it is a classic example of burnout accumulation. The Argentine’s game relies on sharp decision-making and quick bursts of acceleration—both of which suffer when the legs are heavy. His recovery time between defensive actions has increased, and he is often a step late in closing down opponents. The “Mac Allister magic” of last season—those sudden turns and incisive passes—has been replaced by a more cautious, reactive style. He is playing not to make mistakes, rather than to create brilliance.

Confidence and the “Second Season” Syndrome

There is also a psychological component at play. Mac Allister is experiencing what many top players face in their second season at a big club. Opponents have now studied his tendencies. They know he likes to feint to his right before passing with his left. They know he drifts into the left channel to receive the ball. Premier League defenders and midfielders are now closing him down faster, denying him time and space. This has led to a noticeable increase in dispossessions—he is losing the ball 2.8 times per game, up from 1.9 last season.

Confidence is a fragile currency in football. When a player starts second-guessing his first touch or delaying a pass, the entire rhythm collapses. You can see it in his body language: the slumped shoulders after a misplaced pass, the frustrated glances at teammates. He is no longer the swaggering World Cup winner who arrived at Anfield with a point to prove. He looks like a player trying to solve a puzzle without all the pieces. This mental block is perhaps the hardest to fix, as it requires not just tactical adjustments but trust from the manager and a run of good performances.

Can He Bounce Back? Predictions and Solutions

The good news is that Mac Allister’s drop-off is not a case of lost talent. He remains a technically gifted, intelligent footballer with proven elite pedigree. The solution lies in role optimization. Arne Slot must find a way to reintroduce the elements that made Mac Allister dangerous: attacking freedom and vertical passing. This could mean shifting to a 4-3-3 with a more advanced midfield role, or pairing him with a true defensive anchor (like Endō) to allow him to push higher up the pitch.

Another key factor is rest. Liverpool’s fixture congestion has been brutal. A proper rotation policy, especially in cup competitions, could rejuvenate the Argentine. He needs a period of low-pressure games to rebuild his rhythm. Additionally, working on his off-the-ball movement to find space in deeper areas could help him adapt to Slot’s system without sacrificing his strengths.

Prediction for the Rest of the Season:

• Short-term (next 10 games): He will continue to struggle for consistency, but a goal or a standout assist could spark a turnaround. Expect a mid-season dip followed by a gradual improvement as his body recovers.
• Long-term (by season’s end): If Slot adjusts the tactics, Mac Allister will finish the season with 8-10 goal contributions—a respectable number, but below the 15+ that many expected. He will not be a flop, but he will be seen as a functional rather than transformative midfielder.
• Next season: With a full preseason under Slot and improved fitness, he will return to near his Brighton levels, but likely never reach the peak of his first six months at Liverpool unless the system is tailored to his strengths.

Conclusion: A Temporary Blip, Not a Collapse

Alexis Mac Allister’s drop-off at Liverpool is a complex issue, rooted in tactical change, physical fatigue, and the natural adaptation period of a world-class player in a new system. He is not a “fraud” or a “bad signing.” He is a victim of circumstance—a square peg being forced into a round hole by a manager still finding his feet in English football. The talent is undeniable. The hunger is still there. What Mac Allister needs is a tactical tweak, a good night’s sleep, and a little bit of luck.

Liverpool fans should not panic. The Argentine has shown he can rise to the biggest occasions. The question is whether Arne Slot will unlock the key to his best form. If the manager adapts, we may look back on this period as a mere footnote in a successful Liverpool career. If not, the “Mac Allister mystery” will become a cautionary tale about how even the brightest stars can dim when the system doesn’t fit. For now, the jury is out—but the verdict is far from final.

Source: Based on news from Sky Sports.

Image: CC licensed via commons.wikimedia.org