Press conferenceAlexis Mac Allister: 'We have the right players and the right mentality to do great things'
Alexis Mac Allister stated his belief and confidence that Liverpool can enjoy a strong first Champions League campaign under head coach Andoni Iraola.
The Reds will begin their next tilt at Europe's biggest club prize on Wednesday night when Atletico Madrid visit Anfield for the first matchday of the league phase.
At the pre-match press conference, Mac Allister spoke of his conviction about the team's ability to challenge for honours if they can collectively hit their top levels.
"Of course we are talking about the Champions League - but I am very confident about this season," said the No.10.
"We have a lot of quality, and we have a very good coach that brought his ideas and we are trying to get there.
"I think we've improved a lot since the beginning of the season and, as I say, we have quality and have a very good coach and have the desire of winning trophies - hopefully this year.
"Many of these players won the Premier League as well so we have experience, we have trophies and we have everything to be successful.
"But we need to be all together. You can have the best players and you can have the best plan, but if we are not in the same page it's impossible."
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Watch on YouTubeOn the impact of Anfield in particular for a Champions League match, he added: "It's so special for me. I really enjoy them. When I arrived to the club we were not in the Champions League, we were in the Europa League.
"You can see the difference when it's a Champions League game under the lights at Anfield. Hopefully we can bring that with us, and we can play good football so the fans can get behind us."
For a second successive season Liverpool will host Atletico in L4 for their opening game of the tournament.
Last term, the Reds earned a late 3-2 victory thanks to Virgil van Dijk's stoppage-time header.
Mac Allister himself is well versed on the La Liga visitors and will get set to face several of his international teammates - alongside fellow countryman and Atletico head coach Diego Simeone - at club level.
"I think over the last few years you always talk about that they are a defensive side," Mac Allister continued. "I don't believe too much in that.
"Obviously when they defend, they play with a pretty low block, which is hard to break down, but then they have some great players who have great freedom and that makes them very dangerous.
"I think the most difficult [thing] when you play against them is to defend well. We have to be clear in what we need to do and also to be aggressive.
"They have quite a few Argentinian players so it could be that helps them a little bit, but they have that passion, those guts and that desire to win that we as Argentinians have within us.
"I think it's great that Diego has been there for such a long time and he has been able to get his ideas across. It will be a lovely game and hopefully we'll win it."
The occasion will see Iraola take charge of the first Champions League encounter of his managerial career and as Liverpool head coach.
Mac Allister, who was afforded an extended break after reaching the World Cup final in the summer, has been impressed by his new boss since returning to Merseyside.
"Definitely since I came to pre-season and I worked under Andoni I could see something special," he added.
"As I said before, he's a really good coach, he knows very well what he wants to do. We are trying to get there. I haven't had any conversations with him about [speculation regarding his future].
"But of course, when I see the way he wants us to play, the way we train, as I said before this can be a successful year. That's why I think this is the right club and the right moment to be here.
"As I said before, I love being here. This is something special and if I feel we can be successful at the end, what I want is to win trophies.
"I think we have the right players and the right mentality to go and do great things, but we have to be everyone on the same page and do what we have to do."