Alexis Mac Allister Opens Up on Challenges and Adapting to Liverpool's New Style Under Arne Slot

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister recently shared how tough it can be for him and other players when international breaks come around. Right after Liverpool’s Premier League game against Aston Villa, Mac Allister, along with his teammates Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, will head off to South America to represent their countries in World Cup qualifying games.

Mac Allister will be joining the Argentina squad for games against Paraguay and Peru, while Nunez and Diaz will play for Uruguay and Colombia. This will be the last international break until March, which will give Liverpool a bit of a breather. However, constant travel and time zone changes can really take a toll on players.

Liverpool has been doing everything possible to ease the impact on players, like booking private planes to bring them back as soon as their national games are over. Mac Allister appreciates Liverpool’s support, but he admits it’s still challenging.

Talking about the club’s efforts, Mac Allister expressed how much Liverpool has helped. “Honestly, it’s not easy,” he said. “But the club really supports us. They can’t change the time zones or travel, but they do arrange private flights so we can get back to England in the best possible way.”

Mac Allister added, “These little things really help. But it’s still hard, and we have to keep improving in how we handle it as professionals. Recovering well is very important because the games come quickly, and the trips are long. In the end, we need to perform.”

His comments reveal just how hard it is for Liverpool to keep players fit and ready, especially with back-to-back international breaks and a busy match schedule. Luckily, Liverpool’s next game after the break is scheduled for a Sunday, which gives players an extra day to prepare.

Even with these international interruptions, Mac Allister has been a key player for Liverpool this season, one of only three players (along with Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo) who has played in all 16 of Liverpool’s games. Since new head coach Arne Slot arrived, Mac Allister has had to adapt to a slightly different role in the midfield.

“With Jurgen [Klopp], I used to play as a lone defensive midfielder,” Mac Allister explained. “But now, under Slot, we’re playing with two midfielders in that position, so I have more freedom to move around. For example, if the left-back pushes forward, I can move up while Ryan Gravenberch stays back. This system gives us more flexibility, and I’m enjoying it.”

He also talked about how Slot’s style focuses on keeping the ball longer and creating more chances by controlling the game. “We’re working really well with the new coach,” said Mac Allister. “His ideas and mentality are clear, and we’re happy with how things are going. We’re still adjusting to his approach, but it’s exciting to see our progress.”

Mac Allister’s adjustment to this new system has helped Liverpool control games better and create more chances. He believes this change in style has been a major improvement for Liverpool.

Mac Allister also spoke highly of Liverpool’s fans, especially during recent home games. Liverpool’s last two games at Anfield—a 2-1 win over Brighton in the Premier League and a big 4-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League—showed just how much the fans can lift the team.

“The fans here are incredible,” said Mac Allister. “It’s different from Argentina, but I have no doubt that Anfield is special. If you ask players from any team, they’d tell you that the atmosphere here is just crazy. It’s the same passion I saw playing for Boca Juniors, and it’s something that really drives us.”

Mac Allister compared Liverpool’s fans to those at Boca Juniors, a famous team in Argentina. He said that, like Boca’s fans, Liverpool’s supporters are “crazy for their team,” and he loves playing in front of them.

The upcoming game against Aston Villa marks the end of a very demanding period for Liverpool. They have played seven tough games in just 21 days. The packed schedule has tested their stamina, but having three games at home has helped. The energy from the fans at Anfield has been a big boost.

Liverpool will keep putting in a lot of effort to strike a balance between club matches and international commitments. Liverpool wants to maintain its momentum under the new coach and retain players in peak form for the remainder of the season, especially with Mac Allister and other players scheduled to return soon.