Liverpool 1-1 Sunderland: Arne Slot Risking His Job by Continually Selecting a Player in ‘Awful’ Form
As Arne Slot’s position as Liverpool manager becomes increasingly unstable, 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 failed to take maximum points in six of their last nine games in all competitions.
Sunderland, led by Regis Le Bris, deserve full credit; they pushed Liverpool to their limits and came close to securing their first win at Anfield since 1983. However, their efforts were undone late on when Florian Wirtz’s deflected effort slipped past Robin Roefs.
Whether that equaliser is the only thing keeping Slot in the job remains uncertain. But if he does stay in charge for this weekend’s clash with newly promoted Leeds United, one player he urgently needs to drop is Alexis Mac Allister.
Mac Allister’s Error-Filled Showing vs Sunderland
Last season, Slot’s ability to maximise the potential of his midfield—particularly Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Mac Allister—was central to Liverpool lifting their 20th league title. But this season, Mac Allister’s form has collapsed dramatically, to the point where “anonymous” no longer fully captures his lack of impact.
He registered 72 touches against Sunderland, lost the ball 11 times, and while his 86% passing accuracy wasn’t alarming, his repeated failure in duels certainly was.
Liverpool’s press—once their defining strength—has evaporated. Their midfield structure has deteriorated, and aside from the tireless Szoboszlai, they have far less control in transition or ball recovery. Gravenberch has become overly attack-minded, while Mac Allister no longer resembles the energetic, combative midfielder he once was. His lack of physical presence is becoming increasingly obvious.
No Player Has Declined More Sharply Than Mac Allister
Despite being a World Cup, Copa America, and Premier League champion, Mac Allister’s drop-off this season has been dramatic, and he appears to be suffering from severe fatigue. With December now underway and no improvement in sight, his next steps are unclear.
Fans have voiced their concerns online. One X user wrote: “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.” A third questioned: “If Salah can be benched for poor form, why is Mac Allister still starting?”
Looking ahead, Curtis Jones must come back into the lineup. The midfielder—who publicly demanded greater aggression from his teammates after the 3-1 Champions League defeat to PSV—offers more ball security, forward drive, and intensity both in and out of possession. When he’s featured, he has looked like everything Mac Allister used to offer during the 2024/25 campaign.