Alexis Mac Allister has finally completed his long-awaited move to Liverpool, with the Reds getting their midfield overhaul underway.
The World Cup winner starred for Brighton in the season just gone and announced himself onto the international stage with Argentina. Reds boss Jurgen Klopp has been desperate to rebuild his midfield department, with Mac Allister the first of several expected moves.
Mirror Football understands that Klopp will look to use him in a similar way to how he used Mario Gotze at Borussia Dortmund. That will likely see the Argentine pushed further forward in a more attacking role, with Klopp delighted to see him arrive at Anfield.
“We are adding a very talented, very smart, very technically skilled boy to our squad and this is super news, really it is. I do not think the football world needs me to say too much about Alexis’ qualities because they are already pretty well known," he said.
"But it is clear that he is someone who can play in a number of positions in the midfield and is an all-rounder, I would say. He is calm and composed and someone with proper game intelligence.
“Of course, he is a player we have known about for a long time and I have watched him grow from a young boy coming into the Premier League to a man who helped his country win the World Cup. That is quite a journey."
HAVE YOUR SAY! How should Liverpool line-up with Alexis Mac Allister? Comment below.
Line-up option one - 4-2-1-3
The first potential line-up available to Klopp would see Mac Allister pushed to the top of Liverpool's midfield trio. Fabinho and Jordan Henderson would sit as a deeper pair, with Mac Allister given license to push forward.
There would then be an attacking three ahead of that midfield, in this case made up of Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo. Mac Allister would be entrusted to link up with that trio in attacking situations.
Line-up option two - 4-1-2-3
If Klopp wanted to have more of an attacking outlook to his midfield line-up then this second option could be the way to do it. One of Henderson or Fabinho would sit at the base in a defensive role.
Mac Allister would then sit to one side of that deeper man, with Harvey Elliott sitting on the other. That duo would be able to link up with the attacking trio together, if the Reds were looking to put more pressure on their opposition.
Line-up option three - 4-1-4-1
Option three would be even more attacking than the second, if Liverpool were against teams sitting even deeper. It would enable Klopp to get four of his top attackers into the line-up, as well as Mac Allister.
Fabinho would provide defensive cover, with Mac Allister sitting in the middle on an attacking four alongside Diogo Jota, in a similar role to one he played at times with Brighton. Salah would then play off the right wing, with Gakpo on the left and Nunez up-front.
Line-up option four - 4-1-2-3
In a similiar vein to option two, this line-up would see Klopp select a midfield trio. Two players would also be pushed up higher to add a more attacking outlook to the team, but this time it would be Elliott and Stefan Bajetic.
Mac Allister would instead take Henderson's role, sitting deeper to act as a defensive guard. It is a role he frequently fulfilled at the Seagulls and would be capable of doing again for his new team.
Line-up option five - 4-2-2-2
If Klopp wanted to play with two players up-front, there is another option based around Mac Allister at his disposal. In this situation, Mac Allister would be part of a central midfield pair alongside Fabinho.
Salah would then play on the right wing, with Luis Diaz out on the left wing. Up-front, Nunez would partner Gakpo through the middle, giving Klopp the ability to use two strikers in his line-up.
