Alexis Mac Allister backs Andoni Iraola as Liverpool search for first Premier League win
Alexis Mac Allister has thrown his support behind Andoni Iraola despite Liverpool’s winless start to the Premier League season, praising the new manager’s personality and the squad’s commitment to adapting to his tactical demands.
Liverpool were held to a second successive 2-2 draw, this time by Nottingham Forest at Anfield, leaving Iraola still waiting for his first league victory.
Despite the disappointing results, Mac Allister insists the players have responded positively to Iraola’s methods and are working hard to master his philosophy.
“Really good, very good,” Mac Allister said. “We all genuinely enjoy working together, and everyone puts in extreme effort in daily training to quickly grasp and perfectly execute his tactical ideas and concepts.
“He’s a very approachable and friendly person, and all the coaching staff are extremely professional and excellent too. So yes, we’re hungry for wins and results, and we give our best every day. As for his personal character and personality, he’s truly outstanding, and everyone respects him.”
The comments come as Liverpool continue to adjust to Iraola’s high-intensity, aggressive style of play. The side struggled to implement those instructions in the first half against Forest before producing a much-improved performance after the break. Iraola himself admitted the team was “poor in the first half” but welcomed the increased intensity after half-time.
Mac Allister remains optimistic about the direction of the team, pointing to the progress already being made on the pitch.
“We remain positive and optimistic because we can see we’re doing some things very well,” he said. “In terms of implementing the manager’s tactical ideas, we’re definitely moving in the right direction, but in terms of current points and performances, that’s nowhere near enough.”
The midfielder stressed that the players must take collective responsibility for solving the issues that have appeared in matches.
“The key is to hold proper team meetings, discuss these tactical issues openly and honestly, and work together to solve them in future training sessions.”
