Alexis Mac Allister ‘Didn’t Rate’ One of Liverpool’s Best Players After Facing Him

Under Arne Slot, Alexis Mac Allister – alongside the likes of Mohamed Salah – has become one of Liverpool’s most important players as they strive for Premier League dominance; but the midfielder admitted to not seeing the ‘hype’ of one of his Anfield teammates while on the books of Brighton & Hove Albion.

In 2024/25, when Slot became just the fifth manager in the history of the Premier League to win the title in their maiden term, Mac Allister manned the midfield – often alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai – 49 times across all competitions.

GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: By scoring against Sheffield United in April 2024, Mac Allister became the first Liverpool midfielder – since Steven Gerrard in 2013 – to either score or assist in six matches in a row.

Mac Allister’s services, in the summer of 2023, were snared from Brighton while the much-beloved Jurgen Klopp was in charge of the Merseyside-based outfit – and his £35 million price tag is now considered a shrewd bit of business given that the 26-year-old is now seen as one of world football’s best midfielders.

Mac Allister Named Liverpool Ace He Previously ‘Didn’t Really Rate’ at Brighton

Mac Allister, who rose through Argentinos’ academy ranks between 2015 and 2019 before getting his high-profile move to Brighton, was wanted by a ton of clubs – including plenty in the Premier League – before his move to Liverpool. But… who did the Santa Rosa-born ace, a one-time World Cup winner with Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina in 2022, admit to barely rating before making the jump from the Amex Stadium to Anfield?

Until seeing him up close and personal, Mac Allister wasn’t wholly convinced of goalkeeper Alisson Becker, the club’s No.1 since his arrival in the summer of 2018, and his status among world football’s greatest goalkeepers. According to ESPN UK, he said:

“I tell him ‘You know, when I was at Brighton, I didn’t understand what the hype was all about. I didn’t really rate you. Now damn! I have to admit, you’re the best.'”

Now, after a total of two years of having the pleasure of knowing the Brazilian giant is in between the Liverpool sticks, Mac Allister believes that he – alongside the likes of Emiliano Martinez and Thibaut Courtois – is among the very best in the world.

“Well, ok, you, Dibu [Emiliano Martinez] and [Thibaut] Courtois,” the midfielder continued before joking that he’s not been invited to the goalkeeper’s BBQ as yet. “He hasn’t invited me to his house for a BBQ yet, so he has this season ahead to keep to his word.”

There are not enough superlatives to describe how important Alisson has been to Liverpool’s success, especially across a managerial transition from Klopp to Slot. Indispensable when fit, the 32-year-old’s shot-stopping ability is second to none.

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