Wataru Endo says Alexis Mac Allister stepped up on every passing play when he played as a Liverpool midfielder.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Japanese highlighted how his midfield partner is embracing his new role as Liverpool’s innermost player in the central trio.
Mac Allister joined Liverpool this summer from Brighton
However, the 24-year-old has been deployed through Jurgen Klopp in a more defensive role, something Endo now believes Mac Allister is starting to do after many games in that position.
The former VfB Stuttgart captain said: “Macca is more offensive, but defensively he is looking to improve. As he continues to play, he becomes very strong defensively.
“Also, I can learn a lot of things from him and I think it’s a balance between me and Macca. He’s still young, but he’s already won the World Cup and he’s got a lot of mentality.
Mac Allister’s time at Liverpool has been, to say the least, with the attacking midfielder deployed as the only six in a three-man midfield under Klopp.
With the Argentine obviously in a better position to play a complex role, it makes no sense for the Liverpool manager to continue experimenting with Mac Allister in that position.
What’s more, with Endo waiting in the wings as a natural defensive midfielder, it probably won’t be long before the former Bundesliga star replaces Mac Allister in the starting eleven.
Indeed, such a move would be dramatic for Liverpool, but it could be if Mac Allister is still unable to fill that role on a global level.