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Alexis Mac Allister explains why he rejected the number 8 shirt at Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister, 24, was given the option of walking in the footsteps of the Reds’ former skipper Steven Gerrard when he completed his move from Brighton
Liverpool’s £35million signing Alexis Mac Allister has revealed that he rejected the chance to wear the No 8 shirt out of respect for Anfield legend Steven Gerrard.
Mac Allister, 24, was given the option of walking in the footsteps of the Reds’ former skipper when he completed his move from Brighton.
Naby Keita failed to live up to expectations when he inherited Gerrard’s shirt following his £53 million arrival from RB Leipzig in 2018 and has not had his contract renewed. So Mac Allister opted for the No 10 shirt he wore at Brighton – and which is synonymous with Argentine superstars Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona.
“One day, I was talking to my dad when he asked me what number I would wear for Liverpool,” said Mac Allister. “I knew there were several numbers available – including 10 and 8. The No 8 shirt is a very important number in that club because of Gerrard, so I hesitated a bit. I ended up choosing the 10, but 8 is a number that I like a lot and has a history at the club.”
The World Cup-winning midfielder will now wear the jersey of John Barnes, Sadio Mane and Michael Owen. Mac Allister was persuaded to move to Merseyside by a charm offensive led by manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Kop boss pinpointed midfield reinforcements as being key to his Liverpool rebuild after a season which saw the Reds fail to make an impact in any competition before a late rally which saw them qualify for the Europa League.
Mac Allister said: “After the season ended, I had the chance to talk to Klopp and he told me about the club, the city and what he wanted. The main thing was that from the first moment, they communicated with my family and with me, they wanted me to be there.
“When I was able to speak with the coach, it was made even clearer. It’s the small details that made me choose Liverpool. I feel that it is the right step in my career.”
Mac Allister added: “We all know that Klopp likes to play a lot on the counterattack, but in recent years there has been a change in his way of playing. He explained to me that he needed players to play between the lines and with a winning mentality.
“I’ve always had that mentality – but even more so after the World Cup. I want to win titles – that’s the goal that the club and I have. Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the world. Its history makes it like this.
“The fans demonstrate in each match in the way they show up. But as well as history, there is a team with great players and a great coach. From the first moment, they showed me a lot of desire for me to be there.”
