Well, well, well. Alexis Mac Allister has certainly given Liverpool fans something to talk about after his comments following the incredible victory over Villarreal.
The Argentine was outstanding on Tuesday night, scoring twice as Liverpool fought back from two goals down to win 4-3 at Anfield. But it was what he said after the game about last season that really caught my attention.
“Last year was a really difficult year for all of us. It was clear I was not at the level and I am the first one to say. Something wasn’t right in the group and this manager changed it.”
Hang on a minute, Macca. Something wasn’t right in the group?
Now, I would love to know exactly what he means by that.
I’m not going to pretend I know what went on behind closed doors, because I don’t. But those are pretty revealing words from a player who was part of the dressing room last season.
And you can understand why Liverpool supporters are looking at that quote and wondering whether the problems ran deeper than what we were seeing on the pitch.
What actually went wrong last season?
Arne Slot had a difficult job following Jürgen Klopp, and I don’t think anyone expected everything to be perfect. Winning the Premier League in his first season was a remarkable achievement.
But last season was a completely different story.
Liverpool looked short of energy and confidence at times, performances became increasingly frustrating, and the team struggled to find any real consistency. There were questions about the tactics, the intensity and whether the players were getting the best out of themselves.
Mac Allister has now admitted that he wasn’t performing at the level he expected, which is fair enough. I actually respect him for taking responsibility rather than simply blaming everyone else.
But his suggestion that something wasn’t right within the group is the part that interests me most.
Was it the tactics? Was the atmosphere affected by the difficult circumstances surrounding the club? Were some players struggling to buy into the approach? Or was it a combination of several things?
We simply don’t know, and it would be unfair to make accusations without evidence.
Still, when a senior player speaks so openly about a problem within the group, it naturally raises questions.
Iraola appears to have changed the mood
The contrast with Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool is becoming increasingly noticeable.
Mac Allister explained that the new manager has brought a different way of playing, particularly defensively, with more man-to-man responsibilities instead of the zonal approach used previously. He also spoke positively about the manager and his coaching staff.
That is significant because this isn’t simply about Liverpool winning a few games. It is about players feeling more comfortable with what they are being asked to do.
And Tuesday night was a perfect example of the good and the bad under Iraola so far.
Liverpool were defensively all over the place in the opening half-hour against Villarreal. Going two goals behind at Anfield was nowhere near good enough, and Iraola still has plenty of work to do.
But the response was superb. Mac Allister helped drag Liverpool back into the game, Ronald Araújo levelled before half-time, and Florian Wirtz put the Reds ahead after the break.
There was energy, attacking intent and a determination to fight back rather than accept defeat.
That doesn’t prove every problem has disappeared, but it certainly gives supporters reasons to be encouraged.
I want to hear more from Macca
I’ll be honest, part of me wishes Mac Allister had said a little more.
Not because I want another round of Liverpool dressing-room drama, but because supporters deserve to understand why a team capable of winning the Premier League could look so uncomfortable with itself the following season.
Slot has gone, Iraola is in charge, and the most important thing now is that Liverpool move forward. I’m not interested in dragging the club through endless arguments about the previous manager.
But if there were genuine issues that affected performances, understanding them matters. Otherwise, how can we be certain the same problems won’t return?
For now, I’m taking Mac Allister’s comments for what they are: an admission that things weren’t right last season and that he believes Iraola has made a positive difference.
And after watching Macca score twice against Villarreal, I’m certainly glad to see him looking more like himself again.
Something wasn’t right in the group. Those are Mac Allister’s words, not mine.
Maybe he will explain exactly what he meant one day. Until then, we can only speculate.
But I suspect Liverpool supporters aren’t the only ones who would love to know a little more about what really happened last season.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
Leave a Reply