Alexis Mac Allister has struggled with physicality at Liverpool, highlighted during their 3-2 loss to Manchester United. His errors in that match contributed to the team's defeat.
Key points
Mac Allister's physicality is a problem
Liverpool lost 3-2 to Manchester United
Carragher comments on Liverpool's lack of physicality
Mac Allister made key errors during the match
Mentioned in this story
Alexis Mac AllisterJamie Carragher
LiverpoolManchester United
Welcome to The Debrief, a Sky Sports column in which Adam Bate uses a blend of data and opinion to reflect on some of the key stories from the latest Premier League matches. This week:
Mac Allister's physicality is a problem
Gallagher finds his best for Spurs
Rohl's key Everton role against City
Mac Allister's Old Trafford nightmare
When Jamie Carragher says that "Liverpool lack the physicality to cope with the Premier League" it is not a reference to any one player in particular but there were times during the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United when Alexis Mac Allister seemed to sum that up.
The Argentina international could consider himself a little unfortunate that a trio of relatively minor errors were all punished. He turned his back on Matheus Cunha's shot for United's opening goal. It bounced off him and contrived to find the bottom corner.
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Highlights from the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool.
Highlights from the Premier League match between Manchester United and Liverpool.
"The second goal we did not concede because of the handball," said Arne Slot afterwards. "We conceded it because we lost the ball in a stupid position." That too was Mac Allister. A slack pass eventually resulting in Benjamin Sesko forcing the ball home via his hand.
Alexis Mac Allister's loose pass was seized upon in the build-up to Man Utd's second goal
Q&A
What specific issues did Mac Allister face during the Manchester United match?
Mac Allister struggled with physicality and made errors, including turning his back on a shot that led to a goal.
How has Jamie Carragher commented on Liverpool's physicality?
Jamie Carragher noted that Liverpool lacks the physicality to cope with the Premier League, which was exemplified by Mac Allister's performance.
What was the outcome of the Liverpool vs Manchester United match?
Liverpool lost the match 3-2 to Manchester United.
What role does physicality play in Mac Allister's performance at Liverpool?
Physicality has been identified as a problem for Mac Allister, impacting his effectiveness in matches.
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Alexis Mac Allister's loose pass was seized upon in the build-up to Man Utd's second goal
A mishit clearance that was seized upon for Kobbie Mainoo's winner capped it off and though Mac Allister had earlier helped to win the ball back for Liverpool's equaliser, it was a performance that illustrated some of the issues that have dogged him all season.
Let's be clear that Mac Allister has been a fine player for Liverpool. He soon became a favourite in his debut season under Jurgen Klopp and was an instrumental figure in their title win under Slot. He is 27 and that is young enough for him to rise again in a red shirt.
But right now he is struggling. In part, it is tactical. At Old Trafford, he was deployed in a deeper role with Ryan Gravenberch often freed up to roam forwards ahead of him. It left Bruno Fernandes in space and primed to spring the counter-attack time and time again.
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Jamie Carragher is worried about the direction of Liverpool and describes the profile of the type of new midfielder that he feels is crucial to the club
Jamie Carragher is worried about the direction of Liverpool and describes the profile of the type of new midfielder that he feels is crucial to the club.
"They cannot cope with the counter-attack," said Carragher. "Before you know it, they get blown away by the pace and power." This is the bigger worry with Mac Allister. His physical levels appear to have dipped alarmingly and it has been a problem for him all year.
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His average speed and top speed are both down on each of the previous two seasons. The pressing, which was a feature of his game, has dropped off too. Is that a result of Slot's tactical preferences? Perhaps. The eye test suggests he is struggling to do it regardless.
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Mac Allister has already started more games for Liverpool this season than in either of the previous two campaigns. Could a break reinvigorate him? If so, it is not going to be forthcoming in a World Cup year. And so, the club must reconsider that midfield area.
Initially, the trio of Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai was a triumph for Slot when they were unable to bring in a holding midfielder at the start of his reign. But it has since been exposed. Never more so than in the case Mac Allister at Old Trafford.
Conor Gallagher produced a moment of real quality to set Tottenham on their way to a significant win at Aston Villa on Sunday. But it was the England international's endeavour in midfield that earned the praise of the Spurs coach afterwards.
"When Gallagher plays like this we play with 12 players because you can find him as a striker, as a midfielder, as a full-back - everywhere on the pitch you can find him," explained an enthusiastic Roberto De Zerbi. "Great player, great passion, great qualities."
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Premier League highlights from the match between Aston Villa and Spurs.
Highlights from the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur.
The numbers bear that out. Gallagher covered 11.61 kilometres in the win at Villa, by far the most of any player on the pitch for either side. Importantly, it was a return to the all-action style that has long been his trademark but had been strangely missing at Spurs.
Conor Gallagher's distance covered for Tottenham in their win at Aston Villa
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Conor Gallagher's distance covered for Tottenham in their win at Aston Villa
Gallagher had a higher average speed in this game than in any of his appearances under Igor Tudor and, indeed, any of his previous games under De Zerbi too. Operating in a more advanced role, he appeared to be a bit more liberated, able to go hunting the ball.
"This is what I do best, work hard off the ball," Gallagher said afterwards. De Zerbi is noted for his love of technical players, of the possession game. But he wants and needs men who can deliver high-tempo performances too. Gallagher epitomised that at Villa.
Rohl's role in title twist at Everton
Merlin Rohl was officially denied an assist for Thierno Barry's second goal in Everton's extraordinary 3-3 draw with Man City. While his attempted shot that flicked the heel of Abdukodir Khusanov counts as an assist in Fantasy Premier League, Opta's rules are harsher.
No matter. This was a breakthrough night for the German midfielder signed from Freiburg last summer. It was his first Premier League start at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and only his third in total - the last one coming in a victory at Aston Villa back in January.
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Everton 3-3 Man City | Premier League highlights
FREE TO WATCH: Highlights from Everton’s match against Manchester City in the Premier League.
Brought into the team along with Tim Iroegbunam, Rohl had a very specific task against City. "They both came in and I thought they both did great," said David Moyes. "We needed another midfield player to deal with the way O'Reilly plays for Manchester City."
Merlin Rohl played from the right for Everton in their 3-3 draw against Manchester City
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Merlin Rohl played from the right for Everton in their 3-3 draw against Manchester City
Playing off the right, Rohl had to track O'Reilly's clever runs inside while also making sure that Jake O'Brien had support in his daunting duel with Jeremy Doku. He got through a mountain of defensive work, while also managing to test City going the other way.
Indeed, Rohl might have had an assist early on too, showing impressive acceleration to get away from Marc Guehi and seeing his low cross diverted from Beto's path by the fingertips of Gianluigi Donnarumma. No assist but a big performance, nevertheless.
