Paul Scholes says ‘brilliant’ Liverpool player hasn’t been that good this season
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Liverpool have made a perfect start to the new campaign, but some players have struggled more than others.
The Reds are sitting pretty at the top of the table after winning all five of their league games so far, but performances have not been the most convincing.
Liverpool needed late winners in the opening four games, before edging past Merseyside rivals Everton in their latest game 2-1.
Some stars have shone, but others have had a rather tricky start to the campaign, even if it is no fault of their own.
And Paul Scholes believes that one player in particular, who he happens to think is one of the best in the world, has started the season a lot worse than some of the others.
Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images
Scholes is widely-regarded as one of the best players in Premier League history, so it is safe to say he knows a thing or two about what makes a good midfielder.
And despite playing for a rival team, he has openly admitted that Alexis Mac Allister is one of the best in the world, something that would be classed as very high praise indeed coming from him.
But, Mac Allister has struggled so far this season with injuries, with Scholes believing that he is not at the levels he showed last season.
MORE LIVERPOOL STORIES
“Mac Allister [at number four], I thought he was brilliant last year for Liverpool,” Scholes said on The Good, The Bad & The Football YouTube channel when asked to rank the top five midfielders in the world right now.
I don’t think he’s had the best start to this season, though.”
The Argentine has seen his minutes well-managed so far by Arne Slot, with the Dutchman taking no risks with one of his star players.
Against Everton, particularly in the first-half, ‘Macca’ looked back to his best, or at least a lot closer to it, suggesting that a little bit more time and patience is all he needs.
One worry that Mac Allister may have while he is trying to recover fully is about losing his place in the starting XI, with the competition for places greater than ever.
Dominik Szoboszlai is his biggest threat at the moment as the Hungarian has been one of Liverpool’s most important players at the start of the season, even filling in for ‘Macca’ while he recovers.
And now with Curtis Jones also back fit, all three will be desperate to get that final spot in midfield, with Slot having some big decisions to make.
However, Mac Allister still appears to be the favourite and this will only push him further and make him work harder, suggesting there is still room for him to improve and, rather impressively, get even better.