21 January 2024 , 22:54
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Jurgen Klopp heaped praise on Alexis Mac Allister after Liverpool's thumping 4-0 victory at Bournemouth on Sunday afternoon.
Diogo Jota and Darwin Nunez both hit braces at Dean Court to extend Liverpool's lead at the top of the table. Klopp's side are now five points ahead of Manchester City in second, Arsenal in third and Aston Villa in fourth - but City have a game in hand.
Mac Allister, who joined Liverpool from Brighton last summer, started Sunday afternoon's game and produced an impressive display in the heart of midfield. The Argentine has faced criticism at times this season, but Klopp knows just how important he is.
Klopp is particularly impressed with Mac Allister's ability to play as a defensive midfielder. "I’ve known this boy since the summer - well I’ve known of him from before that and he didn’t play as a single No.6 at Brighton," the Liverpool boss told Sky Sports.
Mac Allister played as a No.8 for the Seagulls and is used in a similar role at international level by Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni. Klopp added: "He’s an incredibly smart player, incredibly smart. And in a compact formation, he is an outstanding No.6.
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"You can all tell me whatever you want, he’s outstanding in that position. He’s great against the ball, sometimes the pitch is too big and that leaves the half-spaces too open, but the game he played today was incredible. He’s so calm on the ball, he’s a really good player."
Klopp's "tell me whatever you want" remark was a response to the pundits who have criticised Mac Allister this season. Former Liverpool striker Dean Saunders is among those to question the World Cup winner, having done so in November.
"I’m not convinced - for a start, he’s got no pace," Saunders told talkSPORT. "When we’ve seen him trying to get back the other day, you can see he’s got no pace.
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"He’s a neat and tidy footballer, but saying that, when he’s keeping the ball, sometimes he gives it away and you think, that’s his game. He can't give the ball away."
Saunders also criticised Liverpool's midfield overall. Klopp revamped that department last summer by signing Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai, as Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Naby Keita all left Merseyside.
Saunders added: "Szoboszlai looks a player, but are they going to be better than the ones they’ve had? They had genuine, unselfish midfield players like Fabinho, Henderson, Milner, (Georgino) Wijnaldum who cover the ground, I’m not sure."
Yet Saunders may have changed his mind, with Liverpool's new-look midfield firing on all cylinders. They are in contention to win FOUR trophies this season, having reached the Europa League last 16, the FA Cup fourth round and the Carabao Cup semi-finals.