Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool experiment boosted as new signing spots promising signs

Jurgen Klopp has opted to field Alexis Mac Allister in a slightly different role at Liverpool this season and Wataru Endo is convinced the Argentina international can master it

Alexis Mac Allister has been backed to kick on and become a top-class deep-lying midfielder by his Liverpool team-mate Wataru Endo.

Mac Allister has been thrust into a slightly different role by Jurgen Klopp since joining Liverpool in a £45million transfer from Brighton in the summer. The Argentine has been asked to sit deeper in midfield, with Thiago Alcantara struggling with an injury and Jordan Henderson and James Milner leaving.

He has been a key player this season, featuring in 15 games across all competitions, but there have been some difficult times. The 24-year-old made a dreadful mistake to gift Brighton their opening goal in a 2-2 draw in October, leading some to question his suitability for the No6 role in midfield.

Endo was signed from Stuttgart in the summer to increase the amount of depth Liverpool have in holding midfield and the Japan international is sure Mac Allister has what it takes to master the position. “Macca is more offensive, but defensively he always tries to make it better. As he keeps playing, he gets very strong defensively,” he told the club website.

“Also, I can learn a lot of things from him and I think it’s a good balance between me and Macca. He is still young, but he has already won the World Cup and has a very good mentality.”

Endo added: “We have very good midfielders, and we are team-mates who play together. I have learned a lot of things from these players, and I can improve more. This is the most important thing that I have to do.”

Klopp will be able to mix things up more in the position soon, with injuries easing in midfield. Liverpool have Mac Allister, Endo, Thiago, Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic capable of playing the position, with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai also on the books following summer transfers.

Liverpool face a tough task after the international break, with a trip to the Etihad Stadium to take on Manchester City on Saturday sure to test Klopp’s side. The Reds are second in the Premier League, just one point behind defending champions City.