£35m Liverpool player should be worried about place in Slot's starting XI after another poor display - opinion

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Liverpool could hardly be going better during what has been a phenomenal start to the season.

The Reds have blitzed their opening 17 games, winning 15 of them and moving to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.

Arne Slot obviously deserves the highest possible credit for delivering such a blistering start to his Liverpool career.

As well as the Dutchman, though, the Liverpool squad should also be – and are – getting their fair share of praise.

By and large Slot has stuck with the same group of 13 or 14 players during the league and European campaign. They have all played their part.

But while Alexis Mac Allister has been a key cog in the Slot machine up to this point, there are clear signs that the Argentine’s place in the team is now not quite so secure.

Alexis Mac Allister under pressure

Mac Allister has been a brilliant signing for Liverpool. It is still unbelievable that the Reds were able to snatch him from Brighton for as little as £35m in 2023.

Since then the 25-year-old has become one of the first names on the Liverpool teamsheet, first under Jurgen Klopp and then with Slot, too.

Unfortunately, though, Mac Allister picked up a knock during the October international break. Having played through the pain for Argentina, the No.10 has not looked quite right since.

Mac Allister put in some slightly sloppy displays in the Liverpool midfield before he headed off back to South America to play for his country this week.

READ MORE: Aaron Ramsey explains why Liverpool’s midfield has been so effective under Arne Slot

But while Mac Allister has often been a model of consistency for Argentina as well, his performance on Thursday night was not up to the usual standard.

Argentine media were not impressed with Mac Allister’s display against Paraguay, labelling him as being ‘unable to influence the game’ at all.

With Curtis Jones contiuning his excellent form for England, the Scouser looks primed to take Mac Allister’s spot in the Liverpool XI.

Curtis Jones ready to pounce

It was interesting to note that following the last international break, Mac Allister only played nine minutes from the bench as Liverpool beat Chelsea.

Slot, wisely, likes to rest the Reds’ South American contingent after such a lot of travel during the break.

As a result it would be fair to assume that Mac Allister is slated for a rest when Liverpool face Southampton a week on Sunday.

With Jones in such good form, it seems likely that the 23-year-old is put in from the start in his place.

Jones has rotated with Dominik Szoboszlai at times recently, but Slot obviously likes the Liverpool academy graduate better in a deeper-lying midfield role.

Consequently, if Jones can put in a good display against Southampton, and with Mac Allister struggling to get going, there is a danger that the former Brighton man will find himself relegated to the fourth choice in Slot’s midfield.