Mac Allister’s Role as a Six: Analysis of the Argentine’s start at Anfield

When Liverpool signed Alexis Mac Allister very early in the summer, the consensus was that he would play as one of the number eights in the team. But, after Fabinho’s departure and the club not buying an elite defensive midfielder per se (at least by name if we exclude Wataru Endō), Jürgen Klopp had no choice but to stick the Argentine in the number six position and build from there.

The Reds have mustered 17 points from eight league games so far this season, which is already better from what the team got 12 months ago at the same stage. The added reason for optimism is that they have already played some of the tougher games (away against Chelsea, Newcastle United and Brighton and a tricky home game against Aston Villa).

While all that is good and encouraging, the defensive numbers of the team can still get better. Liverpool have conceded expected goals (xG) at the rate of 1.44 per 90 in the league so far this season. 1.34 per 90 (in 2022/23) was the maximum xG per 90 they had shipped in before the start of this season since the start of 2018/19. (Ed - of course they have been reduced to ten men three times, and nine once.)

In the three seasons they went very close to Manchester City (winning it once), the expected goal concession rate was less than one.

So, it is not rocket science to understand that to challenge for the title this time around (if we are keeping those ambitions), this number has to come down sooner rather than later.

Now, Mac Allister is not being singled out here. He is doing a job in defensive midfield, a position he was not used to playing before, especially in a single pivot.

Let’s have a broader look at how the Argentine has fared in that position so far and what are the things he can improve on to help the team be solid there till the January transfer window at the least.

Ranking among DMs in the PL

In this section, we take a look at the table consisting of Mac Allister’s numbers in the league this season, ranked among the division’s defensive and deeper-lying midfielders who operate in a single and double-pivot respectively. Sample size ain’t that big, but I have included players who have played a minimum of 300 minutes for the sanctity of the analysis.

While there is encouragement that he is committing to duels, winning them would be the next step. Losing duels in key areas leads to chasing opposition players running towards your goal. That in turn leads to you, as a defensive midfielder, bringing them down before they run at your back-line. That is one of the main reasons why Mac Allister has made the most fouls per 90 among DMs in the league so far.