In the first round of the Premier League on Saturday, Liverpool got the new season off to a good start with a 2-0 win over Ipswich away from home thanks to their excellent play. After the match, McAllister, a key player in the Liverpool team, was interviewed by Viaplay to share his thoughts and feelings about the match.
McAllister began by talking about what the head coach is asking of him, "The head coach is asking me more to stay in this position, which is a different formation, but the principles are the same." He emphasized that no matter what formation the team uses, the full effort on defense and the decisiveness of the last two steps remain the same. This shows McAllister's deep understanding of the team's tactics and a clear understanding of his responsibilities.
Speaking about the team's style of play, McAllister said, "There have been some changes in the team's style of play, but not many. I think Slaughter (possibly referring to the team's new coach or tactical analyst) can help us become a better team." He is open to changes in the team and believes the new elements can have a positive impact.
On winning the game, McAllister commented, "The key to the win was the last step when we pushed for the ball. Maybe in the first half we didn't play at 100%, but in the second half we showed what we are made of and we are very happy with our second half performance." He pointed out the turning point in the game when his team managed to control the game and win by pressing harder and playing with strength in the second half.
Additionally, McAllister talked about the importance of starting the season with a win, "It feels good to start the season with a win - that's always important. We knew we were in a tough spot, but this game gave us confidence and motivation." He is confident in the future of the team and believes that this win will be a great motivation for the team moving forward.
Finally, McAllister paid tribute to rivals Ipswich: "You could see how excited Ipswich were about playing football and being in the Premier League again. It was a great game for both sides and I thought they played at a good level as well. But the important thing is that we got the three points." He acknowledged the strength of the opposition and the intensity of the game, but also stressed the importance of the win.
