The former Brighton star is preparing to start his debut season at Anfield.
Alexis Mac Allister rejected Liverpool’s offer to give him the No.8 jersey out of respect for Steven Gerrard.
As one of Liverpool’s greatest players of all time, Gerrard made history during his ten-year spell at the club. After the English star’s departure in 2015, the No.8 jersey stayed vacant for three years.
Naby Keita then became Liverpool’s next number 8 when he arrived from Leipzig in 2018. The Guinean star ends his difficult spell at Anfield by leaving the club as a free agent this summer.
Liverpool offered the jersey to Mac Allister after signing him on a £35m deal ahead of the next season. But the Argentine international has decided to keep playing with the No.10 shirt.
“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.”
Liverpool’s No.10 jersey was worn by Sadio Mane, who left for Bayern Munich last summer. The Senegalese star had inherited the shirt from Phillippe Coutinho, who ended his Liverpool career in 2018.
Be sure not to miss out on the latest news about Liverpool
Download our brand new App and follow your favorite players, clubs, and much more
