Alexis Mac Allister reached 150 appearances for Liverpool against Brentford, but his milestone highlights a deeper tactical issue and exhaustion within Liverpool midfield
It has been a bruising campaign for Liverpool Football Club. In a season defined by a stark and unexpected drop-off in performances, the Reds only just managed to secure Champions League qualification with a tense 1-1 draw vs Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season.
While the relief around Anfield was palpable, Kopites have spent the final weeks of the campaign questioning the tactical direction under head coach Arne Slot.
Amid growing discontent, a prevailing sentiment has emerged within the fanbase: certain individuals either failed to deliver, or they simply cannot remain automatic starters next season if Liverpool are to challenge for silverware again.
Chief among those under the microscope is Alexis Mac Allister. The midfielder has endured by far his most challenging campaign since making the move to Merseyside.
Yet, despite his glaring individual struggles, the Argentine hit a major personal milestone during the draw against Brentford, stepping out onto the pitch for the 150th time in a red shirt.
Given the current climate, however, it may be a very long time before he reaches his next milestone.
To understand how rapidly Mac Allister reached 150 appearances since his arrival in the summer of 2023, one only has to look at the unshakeable faith shown in him by both Jürgen Klopp and Arne Slot. Whenever available, the Argentine was a fixture in the starting eleven, consistently delivering elite performances.
In his debut campaign under Klopp, he was instrumental in pushing Manchester City and Arsenal to the wire in a thrilling Premier League title battle, while also anchoring the midfield during a successful Carabao Cup run.
When Slot took the reins, Mac Allister’s importance only grew. He became the tactical heartbeat of Slot’s deeper midfield pairing alongside Ryan Gravenberch, a partnership designed to provide defensive stability and allow Dominik Szoboszlai the freedom to attack.
The peak of Mac Allister’s Liverpool career came during that magnificent period, highlighted by a crucial goal in a famous 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League, followed later by a sensational strike past Tottenham Hotspur in a resounding 5-1 win on the day Liverpool officially secured the Premier League title.
After two flawless, trophy-laden seasons, no one foresaw a reality where the World Cup winner would look completely lost and out of place yet that is exactly how this past season unfolded.
A season to forget and dressing room tensions
Slot’s midfield has evolved into one of the glaring weak points of this Liverpool side. All too often this season, the Reds’ engine room has been completely rolled over by opposition midfields boasting half the quality on paper. While Mac Allister desperately wants to reverse this downward trend, the solution is far from simple.
The decline has drawn uneasy comparisons to former Anfield favorites. Much like Georginio Wijnaldum, Mac Allister relies heavily on his physical game despite not being the largest player on the pitch, using controlled, press-resistant dribbling to drive the team forward.
Just as fans could instantly spot when Wijnaldum’s legs began to fade from over-exertion, a similar exhaustion appears to have overtaken the 27-year-old Argentine.
The physical toll has undoubtedly spilled over into the mental side of the game. A recent report from The Athletic revealed that the atmosphere inside the Liverpool dressing room “deteriorated” significantly as the season dragged on.
Mac Allister was reportedly one of the figures hit hardest by the toxic environment, with sources noting that the midfielder felt that he had been unfairly singled out for criticism.
While it is entirely unfair to shoulder him with the bulk of the blame, Slot’s dysfunctional, exposed system has shone a harsh spotlight directly on his flaws.
The crucial numbers behind the drop-off
To truly understand Mac Allister’s current predicament, his incredible durability must be looked at through a different lens. Averaging an exhausting 50 club games per season over a three-year span has finally caught up with him.
Below is a breakdown of his immense workload since arriving at Anfield, which excludes his grueling international schedule with Argentina.
| Season | Appearances (All Comps) | Key Achievements / Role | Team Success |
| 2023/24 | 46 | Integral title-charge cog, Carabao Cup Winner | Carabao Cup, Top 3 Finish |
| 2024/25 | 54 | Deep-lying playmaker alongside Gravenberch | Premier League Champions |
| 2025/26 | 50 | Milestone 150th game vs Brentford | Final-day Champions League Qualification |
To salvage the best version of the 27-year-old, Liverpool must dip into the transfer market this summer. The Reds have been heavily linked with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Monaco’s Lamine Camara. While Wharton may prove difficult to lure to Merseyside after Palace secured Europa League football, bringing in fresh faces is non-negotiable.
In the short term, a deeper squad will mean less playing time for Mac Allister, a reality that may initially frustrate a player of his caliber.
However, if he is to recapture the form that once saw him heralded as one of the best midfielders in the world, he must accept that no human can sustain this ridiculous fixture schedule indefinitely.
ReadLiverpoolFC Verdict
It is easy to point fingers at a player when his form plummets, but the reality is that Mac Allister has been a victim of his own success and a victim of Arne Slot’s rigid over-reliance on him.
Playing 50 games a season in the most intense league in the world, combined with relentless international travel for Argentina, would break any footballer.
The dressing room leaks regarding his frustration at being singled out are concerning, and it highlights a player who feels isolated in a system that is no longer protecting him. Slot needs to adapt.
The recruitment team must deliver him a mobile, defensive-minded partner this summer whether that is Wharton, Camara, or an alternative target. Mac Allister remains a world-class talent, but he desperately needs a break.
Taking a step back in terms of total minutes next season is the only way he will take a step forward on the pitch.
