Arne Slot faces difficult Alexis Mac Allister decision as Liverpool consider change

Twelve months ago, the jury was still out on Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool. Not on his ability as a player - even at that early stage in his Anfield career, the £35million deal to take him from Brighton was appearing a bargain - but regarding him featuring as a lone defensive midfielder.

With Manchester City next up after the international break, question marks were being asked over the suitability of the Argentina international in the position. One outstanding performance at the Etihad later in helping the Reds to a 1-1 draw, any doubts were banished for good, Mac Allister proving himself capable in the deeper role at such an exalted level.

There have, of course, been tactical tweaks since then, Mac Allister spending a large part of the second half of last season in a more advanced role while this campaign joined by Ryan Gravenberch in a double pivot.

READ MORE: 'Not easy' - Virgil van Dijk makes Liverpool admission as Arne Slot asks for 'different things'

READ MORE: Virgil van Dijk injury 'complaints' confirmed as Liverpool captain misses full training

But as Liverpool prepare to once again return to action following a November pause for national team duty, so Mac Allister is facing a different challenge.

His importance to the Reds is undisputed. This season he stands alongside Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo as one of three players to feature for some part in every game while, since the start of the year, Mac Allister has sat out just two matches. Gakpo, with just one absence, is the only player to have featured more for Liverpool during that period.

That omnipresence, though, is seemingly proving part of the problem for Mac Allister, especially when also factoring in his international commitments. During 2024, Mac Allister featured in three of four friendlies for his country earlier in the year before starting five of six games at the Copa America as Argentina won the trophy, and then remained a regular in the World Cup qualifiers to have taken place this season. That all of those games have been in either North or South America has added to the physical demands.

All told, an appearance in Argentina's latest qualifier against Peru in the early hours of Wednesday morning UK time would move Mac Allister on to 58 appearances this calendar year with the possibility of another 11 to come - almost all regarded as must-wins for club or country.

Regardless of the strain on the body, that's a large mental load with which to cope. And there have been signs in recent weeks the workload has been catching up with the player, whose performances have not quite matched those that have gone before.

In fairness, Liverpool are acutely aware of the situation, with Mac Allister having not played a full 90 minutes domestically since September with only one of those outings - last time out against Aston Villa - lasting longer than 66 minutes.

But selection issues in midfield and the need for Arne Slot to bed in his new-look midfield has compelled the Reds boss to keep turning to Mac Allister when, perhaps, a breather may have been beneficial.

Rotation, though, could now be on the horizon regardless of wanting to protect the player given he stands one booking away from suspension with key games against Manchester City, Newcastle United and Everton approaching. And with the intensity of games escalating - Liverpool's visit to Southampton at the weekend is the first of 11 games in 36 days - the process is already underway.

Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai started together in the engine room for eight of the first nine games this season, but have subsequently done so just twice in the following eight. The likelihood is they are unlikely to step out alongside each other too often during the next six weeks.

The excellent beginning to the England career of Curtis Jones - netting on his debut in Greece last week then part of the side that earned UEFA Nations League promotion with a 5-0 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland on Sunday - suggests the 23-year-old should be in the team on merit, while Harvey Elliott is approaching a long-awaited return to fitness after more than two months out having resumed full training during the international break.

With Wataru Endo and Tyler Morton also options - albeit limited thus far to brief substitute roles and League Cup starts - there is now clear scope to allow Mac Allister time to recharge.

Liverpool have relied heavily on the World Cup winner this year, but he can now become a rested development. The second half of last season, after returning from an enforced spell on the sidelines through injury, underlined how important a refreshed Mac Allister can be for the Reds.