Sharing with LFCTV, Jurgen Klopp pointed out the specialness of the top-class star in Liverpool.

Summer signing Mac Allister was deployed in a deeper role as Klopp’s side beat Darmstadt in their final pre-season game before the Premier League kicks off this weekend.

Liverpool’s midfield attracted a lot of the criticism during what was a difficult campaign last time out and has since been rebuilt.

The Argentina international and Dominik Szoboszlai have arrived, while all of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have departed.

While Mac Allister and Szoboszlai offer something new, neither are recognised defensive midfielders.

When asked about the Argentine’s performance at Deepdale, on LFCTV, Jurgen Klopp praised the rookie:

“He’s a top class player… in a compact formation Alexis can play there (defensive midfield) definitely.

“We had a few moments when we were a little too open, obviously we have to work and the whole team will do it.”

“Now he showed just how good a footballer he is and how good he understood the game because he played here now [for] the first time for us at least and he did really well.”

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With the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson, Allister will likely be ranked more by Klopp at the bottom of the midfield. Curtis Jones has held that role for the last few games, but he was injured again before meeting Darmstadt.

Liverpool does have Stefan Bajčetić and Thiago in its ranks but it neither seems to be involved against the Blues after missing the whole of pre-season as they recover from injuries that ended their 2022/23 seasons.