Brighton boss De Zerbi: Mac Allister a special guy

Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi is full of praise for Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

Mac Allister left Brighton for the Reds last summer.

Ahead of today's clash at Anfield, De Zerbi said: Mac Allister is a special guy.

With me and with my staff he was super correct. Of course he was happy to go to Liverpool and we can understand it, but in the same way he was sad to leave his teammates and this club."

On Mac Allister's departure, De Zerbi added, Before we could read it in the press about the possibility he could go to Liverpool, he came into my office to communicate it in front of me and to explain the reason.

I understood logically and I appreciated him a lot because he was clear and he was honest. Not all other players are the same.

I'm speaking about the man. If you want to speak about the player, he is great, but he's passionate and he suffered to leave."