Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP via Getty Images
Alexis Mac Allister has continued his good Liverpool form into the international break as Argentina bounce back from their World Cup final defeat.
Plenty of change is coming for the Albiceleste, with Lionel Messi’s retirement now imminent, but amid a somewhat transitional period for them, Liverpool‘s No. 10 has remained important to Lionel Scaloni.
Mac Allister stood out as Argentina beat Bolivia earlier in the week, and having started their 7-0 thrashing of Burkina Faso on Sunday morning, the 27-year-old was once again handed some impressive reviews from the national media.
Wirtz
Mac Allister keeps up his good form
Mac Allister’s revival has been one of the best things about Liverpool under Andoni Iraola so far. Whether or not he can keep it up is likely to determine if he is handed a new contract at Anfield or not.
While there is a chance his return to form is just a purple patch, it is good news that he is playing well on the international stage as well, and although Burkina Faso were no match for Argentina this weekend, it was still pleasing to see Mac Allister pick up positive ratings from both TyC Sports and Ole.
The former handed him a 7/10 rating, noting that his start to the game was actually ‘somewhat erratic’. The Liverpool man played the Bolivia match in a more advanced position, but is said to have returned to a more natural central midfield role here, taking a little bit of time to adjust.
However, when he got into his rhythm it is claimed that Mac Allister ‘refined his game’ and ended up having a good performance.
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Ole gave him an even better rating, bumping Mac Allister up to an 8/10, praising him for playing a long ball which led to Argentina’s fourth goal of the game, scored by Nico Paz.
Mac Allister was eventually taken off with 20 minutes left to play, and his statistics from the game tell of a player who breezed through this match.
Always tidy with the ball, the former Brighton man found his target with 81 of his 89 passes, while he also got both of his two shots on target. He racked up 100 touches during the game, three of which came in the opposition penalty box, also managing two defensive contributions.
It was not Mac Allister’s best performance in terms of duel-winning – something he has improved this season – as he won just one of his three ground duels, although he did win his only battle in the air.
All in all, this appears to have been a good, steady performance from Mac Allister, if not one which caught the eye in any major way. Argentina round out their round of fixtures with a match against Benin in the early hours of Wednesday, which is scheduled to be Messi’s farewell appearance.
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images
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