-
Alexis Mac Allister explains why he rejected Liverpool’s number 8 shirt.
In order to show respect for Steven Gerrard, Alexis Mac Allister has admitted he turned down the chance to wear the number 8 jersey at Liverpool.
The number 8 jersey that Gerrard wore for 10 years at Anfield was really vacant after he left the team in 2015 until Naby Keita joined the team in 2018.
When Keita left on a free transfer this summer, Mac Allister was given the opportunity to wear the number 8—the same one he wore for Boca Juniors in Argentina—but the new signing opted to preserve the 10 from his time at Brighton.
“One day, I was talking to my dad when he asked me what number I would wear for Liverpool,” said Mac Allister. “I knew there were several numbers available – including 10 and 8.
“The number 8 shirt is a very important number in that club because of Gerrard, so I hesitated a bit. I ended up choosing the 10, but 8 is a number that I like a lot and has a history at the club.”
The 10 was a coveted position at Anfield and was famously worn by both Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane before the latter’s summer transfer to Bayern Munich.
Mac Allister went on to explain the impact Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had on his decision to move to Anfield.
“After the season ended, I had the chance to talk to Klopp and he told me about the club, the city and what he wanted,” he continued. “The main thing was that from the first moment, they communicated with my family and with me, they wanted me to be there.
“When I was able to speak with the coach, it was made even clearer. It’s the small details that made me choose Liverpool. I feel that it is the right step in my career.”
He added: “We all know that Klopp likes to play a lot on the counterattack, but in recent years there has been a change in his way of playing. He explained to me that he needed players to play between the lines and with a winning mentality.
“I’ve always had that mentality – but even more so after the World Cup. I want to win titles – that’s the goal that the club and I have. Liverpool is one of the biggest clubs in Europe and the world. Its history makes it like this.
“The fans demonstrate in each match in the way they show up. But as well as history, there is a team with great players and a great coach. From the first moment, they showed me a lot of desire for me to be there.”