Alexis Mac Allister has confessed to being surprised by Arne Slot’s seamless start as Liverpool boss. The Reds are six points clear at the top of the Premier League and reached the Carabao Cup final on Thursday.

The Argentinian midfielder has remained a key player under the new manager but was only required as a late substitute as Liverpool rolled over Tottenham Hotpsur 4-0 at Anfield. Overturning their 1-0 defeat from the semi-final first leg, the club will face Newcastle United at Wembley next month as they attempt to win the first trophy of Slot’s reign at the earliest opportunity.

There had been doubts over how Liverpool would respond to Jurgen Klopp’s departure, having fallen short towards the end of his final season in charge. Mac Allister was also unsure how a new manager would deal with stepping into Klopp’s shoes and has admitted that Slot has surpassed his own expectations.

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Asked about Klopp’s decision to leave Liverpool, Mac Allister told La Media Inglesa, “He is a legend. It was sad, but it was his decision, and you need to respect that. It was a difficult season. When you get a new coach, things change, and anything can happen.

“We were lucky because the club found a great coach. Arne is great. We are doing better than people expected. It's much better than I thought we would do, to be honest. And that’s because of him. He is very strong and ambitious.”

Mac Allister arrived from Brighton in 2023 and was primarily tasked with a more defensive role in Klopp’s final season as the German coach worked on his new-look midfield. The 26-year-old previously revealed he prefers playing in Slot’s slightly different midfield system, and it seems the appreciation is mutual.

“When I think about Macca, I cannot come up with a poor performance from him – he is so consistent in his performances,” Slot said about the World Cup winner last month. Mac Allister has started all but two league games he's been available for and was also pivotal to the Reds topping the Champions League table.

Liverpool’s success in the first half of the season took many by surprise, particularly given that the club only made one summer signing. However, Klopp had already laid the foundations for the Reds to enjoy fresh success, and Mac Allister credits him as one of the main reasons he chose to join the club.

“Klopp, along with Julian Ward, were the most important people for me being here,” Mac Allister said to La Media Inglesa. “They showed great interest in me, and I had a conversation with Klopp before signing. That was very important to know that they really wanted me here and that I would play and be an important part of the team.”