Jürgen Klopp names Liverpool player who has exceeded his expectations as duo saves him millions

Jürgen Klopp names Liverpool player who has exceeded his expectations as duo saves him millions

Liverpool's midfield rebuild has proven a success this season. One player in particular has exceeded Jürgen Klopp expectations, while two more saved the club millions.

Jürgen Klopp has admitted Alexis Mac Allister has exceeded his expectations this season. The Liverpool midfielder will face his former side this weekend as the Reds host Brighton.

Mac Allister will almost certainly start against his old club. The Argentina international has been perhaps Liverpool’s standout player in recent games, having well and truly found his feet since the turn of the year.

Having filled the number six role during the first few months of the season after his $44m (£35m/€41m), Mac Allister is now excelling in a more advanced position in midfield. The 25-year-old has scored in each of his last three games for the Reds, and looks set to play an influential role in his side’s push for the Premier League title, starting tomorrow against Brighton.

“Alexis is exactly the player I hoped he would be; super-influential, super-smart, great guy,” Klopp told reporters on Friday (via Liverpool's official website). “[He] loves playing for Liverpool as well, which is really important.

“He’s a rhythm-giver, he’s a difference-maker, [he] can control moments of the game. [He is] always there, always involved, nothing is too much for him, he’s really a top, top, top player. But we had that sense when we signed him and he fulfilled all our expectations and more.”

Reflecting on how his new-look midfield has developed this season, Klopp added: “The machine room [midfield] was completely new, we had no idea [what it would be like]. A late number six [Wataru Endō] coming in, another number six [Stefan Bajčetić] injured early on. We had to create an idea and we did.

"We found a way together and I love so much about how the boys have taken to it. So many things are there. How the boys developed, how Curtis [Jones] developed, how Harvey [Elliott] developed, so many things through that difficult period. As difficult as it was, something positive always happened. The very young ones coming in and how they performed, or how the boys who were already with us improved.

“The step Curtis made is insane and the step Harvey made as well, proper, proper. If you have to buy these boys, you spend real money. And we have them, which is really cool. So far, the season is a good story. But if we want to make it a great one we have to keep going. That’s what we will do. We will see.”

There’s a very real argument to be made for him being Liverpool’s signing of the season, although Wataru Endō and Dominik Szoboszlai can also lay claim to that title. The midfield rebuild has truly been a success, but there are still a couple of important matters for them to take care of this season, with the Premier League and Europa League up for grabs.