Roberto De Zerbi’s name is back in the Liverpool conversation this week, with fresh reports suggesting the former Brighton manager could be a possible replacement for Arne Slot if the club decide to make a change.
That may split opinion among Reds supporters, but one thing is clear: De Zerbi has long had huge admiration for Alexis Mac Allister. The Argentine, of course, played under the Italian at Brighton before making the move to Anfield in 2023, and he has only gone from strength to strength since.
Back in March 2024, after Liverpool beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield, he was full of praise for the South American following his superb assist for Mohamed Salah’s winner. As quoted by Paul Gorst, the former Seagulls boss said: “He became a great, great player. The assistance for the second goal was very good. Proud for him. With him to be an important player at a big club…”
Just how bad do you want Arne Slot gone? 😬
De Zerbi’s Mac Allister verdict says everything
Those are not throwaway comments. The Liverpool-linked manager knew exactly what Mac Allister could offer because he had seen the midfielder up close at Brighton, both in and out of possession. So for him to speak that glowingly after returning to Anfield said plenty.
Liverpool fans have seen that quality for themselves. He has become one of the most regularly picked players in the side, capable of dictating tempo, breaking lines with his passing and delivering in the big moments.
De Zerbi’s praise in 2024 now looks even more telling because it came before Mac Allister truly established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet at Liverpool.
If the former Marseille coach ever did arrive at Anfield, he would be stepping into a dressing room containing at least one midfielder he already trusts and rates enormously.
Mac Allister is the kind of intelligent, technical footballer the Italian seems to value, and his comments suggest he believes the Liverpool man is tailor-made for elite-level responsibility.
For supporters wondering how a De Zerbi side might look, the midfielder would surely be central to it.
At the very least, these 2024 remarks are another reminder that one possible Slot successor already sees Liverpool’s World Cup-winning midfielder as exactly what he is: a great player.
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