Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has expressed his confidence in the club’s direction under new head coach Arne Slot, telling ESPN that the team is “on the right track.”
Slot, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp this summer after the German’s nine highly successful years at the helm, has made an immediate impact.
Under his guidance, Liverpool have secured two wins from their first two Premier League matches of the season.
“I think for many people it’s different, and very strange, even for the fans, because [Klopp] was there for nine years,” Mac Allister told ESPN Argentina.
“I’ve been there for only a year, I’m used to changing coach.
“We have a new coach with a lot of ambition, and a desire to win.
“The club is on the right track.”
Mac Allister has been integral to Liverpool’s early success, starting both of the club’s Premier League games so far.
He has been deployed in a deep-lying midfield role, showcasing his versatility and contributing to the team’s stability in the middle of the park.
“What I want most is to be able to help the team,” Mac Allister said when asked where he feels most comfortable.
“This season it’s my turn [to play as a holding midfielder] and I feel that I’ve helped and been at my level and I’ve done well.
“But there is a reality.
“I’ve always played as a number 10 or as a more attack midfielder, so it’s very difficult for me.
“I can say that I always like to be in contact with the ball, in the middle of the field.
“If a coach puts me as a [number] 5 I think it is because he thinks I can help.
“If I played as a 5, it’s because I have improved a lot on my defensive side.”
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister praised new signing Federico Chiesa, who joined from Juventus this week, saying, “He’s going to help us a lot.”
However, as Liverpool prepare to travel to Old Trafford to face rivals Manchester United on Sunday, Arne Slot indicated that Chiesa is unlikely to feature in the match.
“He works really hard, on and off the pitch, to try to get the best out of him, and he combines this with scoring goals,” Slot told a news conference on Friday.
“Really aggressive without the ball… can play in so many positions.
“We should take care of him in the beginning because he didn’t train with the team in the last two weeks… we will build him up in the right way and hopefully we can see his quality in the near future.”
The Dutchman added: “It’s true that he had a long-term injury with his [anterior cruciate ligament] but, for the rest, I don’t think he had big injuries.
“Minor injuries like every other player maybe.
“But again, we have a lot of trust in our support staff.”
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