Liverpool 1–1 Sunderland: Arne Slot Inviting the Sack by Persisting With ‘Awful’ Underperformer
Arne Slot’s position at Liverpool appears increasingly unstable, and his continued trust in one particular player may be making things worse. The Premier League champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Sunderland at Anfield on Wednesday, meaning they’ve now dropped points in six of their last nine games in all competitions.
Sunderland, led by Regis Le Bris, delivered an impressive performance and arguably deserved what would have been their first win at Anfield since 1983. But despite rattling Liverpool throughout, they were denied by Florian Wirtz’s late deflected strike that crept past Robin Roefs.
Whether that equaliser is the only thing keeping Slot in his job is uncertain. But if he remains in charge for the weekend clash against Leeds United, one change he must make is to take Alexis Mac Allister out of the XI.
Mac Allister’s Error-filled Showing vs Sunderland
Last season, Slot’s success largely came from getting peak performances out of his midfield trio, with Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai thriving and Mac Allister maintaining his high standards. This season, however, Mac Allister has dramatically regressed. His impact has faded to the point of near invisibility. Against Sunderland, he had 72 touches but lost the ball 11 times; although his 86% pass accuracy wasn’t alarming, his repeated failure in duels was.
A major difference between last year’s title-winning Liverpool and the current struggling side is the intensity of their press. The midfield shape has collapsed, and aside from the tireless Szoboszlai, they provide far less control in transitions. Gravenberch has drifted into a more technical, attacking role, while Mac Allister no longer resembles the aggressive ball-winner he once was, with his lack of physicality becoming clearer each week.
No Player Has Declined More Sharply Than Mac Allister
Despite being a World Cup, Copa America, and Premier League champion, Mac Allister has endured a severe drop in form and looks overwhelmingly fatigued. With December now here and no signs of recovery, his future trajectory is unclear.
One fan on X captured the general concern, saying: “[Alexis] Mac Allister looks like Fabinho in his final season. One summer, and he’s physically fallen off a cliff. He’s 26.” Another added: “Mac Allister’s form is one of the biggest drop-offs I’ve ever seen,” while a third wrote:
