A current Liverpool player who has worked under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot has spoken out about his favourite manager
Roberto De Zerbi, Manager of Brighton & Hove Albion, comforts Alexis Mac Allister after the final whistle of the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion at Villa Park on May 28, 2023 in Birmingham, England.
Alexis Mac Allister's 'best manager' to date is Roberto De Zerbi(Image: Getty Images)
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Alexis Mac Allister has already ranked Roberto De Zerbi as his best ever manager, above Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot. The 26-year-old Argentine joined the Reds in the summer of 2023 from Brighton, the club he had signed for back in 2019.
Mac Allister spent a single campaign under Klopp at Anfield before the German ended his legendary reign at the end of the 2023/24 season. Slot took over the reins, leading Liverpool to a dominant Premier League title win in his first season, marking Mac Allister's first trophy on English soil.
However, the 2022 World Cup winner has previously admitted it was his final manager at Brighton, De Zerbi, who surpassed all others he has played for. Now managing Marseille, the Italian played a crucial role in Mac Allister's rise, something the midfielder clearly hasn’t forgotten.
Speaking to Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast in December 2024, he said: “He’s a crazy guy but I love him. I think he is the best manager I’ve ever had.”
A puzzled Lineker replied: "Really? You've got Klopp and Slot in there." When asked what made De Zerbi stand out, Mac Allister responded: “It’s the passion he gives for football. That’s special. Then it’s his ideas, the tactical side is amazing.
Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD5 match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield on November 26, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
Arne Slot is under pressure to deliver results at Liverpool
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“He makes you feel good in the team. Since the first day I met him, he was amazing with me, that’s why I said he was the best coach.”
Mac Allister left Brighton for £55million a year before De Zerbi's unexpected exit at the end of the 2023/24 campaign. His third season at Anfield has proven tumultuous thus far, with both he and his team-mates subjected to boos from their own fans following a 4-1 home defeat to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.
The game marked the ninth loss in 12 games under Slot this season, the club’s worst run of form for more than 70 years and their third consecutive game losing by a three-goal deficit. This shocking run of form and the nature of their losses has created a situation that seemed inconceivable just two months earlier, with Slot now facing huge pressure to deliver results.
Questions have emerged regarding the Dutchman's future, though it appears he has the club’s backing for now.
Klopp has audaciously been mentioned among the potential candidates to replace Slot, should he face a stunning dismissal. The German, who currently serves as Red Bull's Head of Global Soccer, previously stated he was finished with football management but acknowledged some form of comeback remains "theoretically" possible.