Liverpool’s brilliant and extremely dominant performance has not gone under the radar against Newcastle United. The Reds may have only scored four goals, but overall, they were by far the better team.
Not only did Jurgen Klopp’s side break the record for the highest xG set in the Premier League but they also averaged a touch inside Newcastle’s penalty area every 1.4 minutes. The utter domination perhaps didn’t quite translate in the 4-2 scoreline, but there is plenty to be excited about.
One of the highlights of the night was also the return of Alexis Mac Allister, who has been suffering from an injury over the last couple of weeks. But he returned to action for the last 15 minutes of the game replacing Wataru Endo, who is set to depart for the Asian Cup.
Immediately, Mac Allister caught the eye with his brilliant technique, and showed what the Reds have been missing from the Argentine.
His best moment of the game came when he beat one Newcastle midfielder, and then sent a impeccably weighted through ball past the Magpies’ defensive line to Diogo Jota. The Portuguese could not convert the chance, with Martin Dubravka bringing him down inside the penalty area. However, Mohamed Salah then put the subsequent penalty away.
Pundit impressed by Alexis Mac Allister
Speaking on the BBC’s Monday Night Club podcast, former Blackburn goalkeeper, Paul Robinson was full of praise for Mac Allister and his pass, calling it ‘the pass of the season.’
‘I think we have just seen the pass of the season. Absolutely incredible pass from Alexis Mac Allister, from the outside of his boot, half way inside his own half and sets Jota through,’ Robinson said.
Robinson is probably not wrong. You would struggle to find a better weighted pass from this season. The way Mac Allister split Newcastle’s defence open was him at his best. Having him back in the side is undoubtedly going to be a huge boost for Liverpool.
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