‘Powerful’ Liverpool Star Should Replace Trent Alexander-Arnold as Vice-Captain – Opinion | OneFootball

Is Alexis Mac Allister the Perfect Vice Captain?

With Trent Alexander-Arnold confirming his long-anticipated departure to Real Madrid, Arne Slot faces a secondary – yet symbolically significant – decision: who wears the vice captain’s armband next and defines a key role within this group? While many will quite rightly look to Mohamed Salah, there is a growing sense that Alexis Mac Allister may be the right choice – not just for now, but for what comes next. If the Egyptian King were still wavering over a contract, I would perhaps be swayed by what would get the former Roma man to pen a new deal. However, now that the legendary attacker has agreed to two more years, I would be more inclined to award the best fit and that for me is the former Brighton midfielder, Alexis.

This isn’t just about medals or appearances. It’s about who can help shape the next era of Liverpool Football Club, on the pitch and in the dressing room. There appears to be a level of control and assurance when the Reds number ten is on the pitch and there is absolute clarity in the respect he no doubt commands. Virgil is undoubtedly the leader and alpha within the group, though the serial-winning Argentina superstar may just be the ideal lieutenant.

Brains and Balance on the Pitch

Mac Allister’s arrival was understated in comparison to the usual transfer frenzy, but his impact has been outrageous and immediately pushed him into the category of a £100m asset. Amidst the chaos of injuries, squad regeneration, and tactical tweaks, the Argentine has been Liverpool’s midfield metronome – dictating the tempo, organising play, and doing it all with a minimum of fuss and a maximum of quality. The difference between him on the pitch and away from it is very obvious, which I suspect is something that extends to every facet of the squad.

Whether deployed as a deeper controller or allowed to drift forward into more progressive areas, the 26-year-old Mac Allister brings a composure that very few players in Europe possess. The powerful middleman rarely loses the ball, his passing range is clinical, and when the game needs slowing down or speeding up, he acts as the adult in the room who can assess and react. You don’t become a World Cup-winning midfielder in a Lionel Messi-led Argentina side without having serious pedigree and he stands comfortably as a guaranteed starter for perhaps the best team in the entirety of international football.

The fan favourite isn’t flashy, and he doesn’t crave attention – which might make him an even better fit for the leadership group Arne Slot is assembling. The vice-captaincy isn’t a popularity contest; it’s about responsibility, influence, and clarity. Mac Allister has all three in abundance and must be in the conversation for that fabled leadership group.

A Dressing Room Leader in the Making

The Argentine’s presence in the changing room is already being felt. While he’s never been the loudest voice in the arena, there’s a reason Liverpool moved quickly to secure him in the summer of 2023 and a reason others – including Salah, Van Dijk, and Alisson – rate him so highly. There’s respect there, and it isn’t just because of what he’s done in the colours of his nation but what he continues to achieve in red.

Mac Allister carries himself like a player who’s been through more than most. He’s calm under pressure, mature in his decisions, and has already shown that he isn’t fazed by the expectations that come with the Liverpool shirt. With younger players like Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and Ryan Gravenberch looking up, that type of influence counts and seems like a responsibility that is heatedly welcomed.

Arne Slot needs a conduit between the management team and the players, and Mac Allister feels like the logical, long-term choice, one who could perhaps take on the mantle of club captain in two years times when he would be 28 years old.

A Nod to the Future, Not the Past

Of course, there will be calls for Salah to be promoted to vice-captain. And few would argue he isn’t worthy, given his absurd output and elite mentality. But Salah, now in the twilight of his Liverpool career, may not be here for the long haul. His influence on the pitch remains immense, but the focus must now shift to building something sustainable.

In Mac Allister, Liverpool has a player entering his prime, who can both lead and play at the highest level for years to come. It would be a statement of progression, continuity, and trust in the new midfield core that has already begun to take shape. It would also tie in nicely with a renewed contract that will surely be presented to the man.

The armband doesn’t need fireworks. It just needs the right fit. Alexis Mac Allister, quietly and confidently, might just be exactly that.