Angel Di Maria says former Liverpool star is one of the best players he’s ever played alongside

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Angel Di Maria will forever be linked with one member of Liverpool’s current squad.

When the 35-year-old slotted home Argentina’s second goal in the World Cup final in 2022, he did so by latching onto a perfect Alexis Mac Allister pass. Regardless of what he may achieve at Liverpool and in the rest of his career, that moment will likely crown Mac Allister’s time as a player.

For Di Maria, it was the goal that a whole, glorious career had been building up to. And our No.10 supplied it. According to the veteran though, there was another player who wore Liverpool red who was even more significant in his career.

Asked by TyC Sports via Marca to name his all time XI of players he’d featured alongside, Di Maria slotted former Red Javier Mascherano into the team.

“It’s difficult because friendships interfere,” he explained, before picking his XI. “I would put Dibu (Emi Martinez) as goalkeeper. It was between him or Casillas. As centre-backs, I’ll stick with Sergio Ramos and the other Ota (Nicolas Otamendi). Left-back Marcelo, 100%, incredible quality, enormous. Right-back, he’s screwed, we’ll leave that one.

“Masche (Javier Mascherano), without a doubt. Rui Costa, who plays as a double five. Leo (Messi), Ney (Neymar), Ibrahimovic and Kylian (Mbappe) up front.”

Di Maria sends Mascherano reminder

What a career Di Maria has had. Now 35, the Argentine is still going strong in Europe with Benfica.

Having initially left the Lisbon side for Real Madrid back in 2010, he went on to have a hugely successful near 15 year spell at some of the biggest clubs on the planet.

The only real blot on his copybook was a failed season-long stint at Manchester United back in 2014/15. But, you know what, we won’t hold that against him!

In terms of this XI, Di Maria left out some real luminous names. Cristiano Ronaldo for one, Gareth Bale another.

In the midfield, he also had plenty of options besides Mascherano. The likes of Madrid trio Casemiro, Luka Modric and – the name on everyone’s lips right now – Xabi Alonso.

When Alonso played alongside Mascherano at Liverpool, the Spaniard was usually the more celebrated of the two.

Bust Masch was an absolute terrier of a midfielder. Tenacious as they come, ‘El Jefe’ was the perfect foil for Alonso and Steven Gerrard. As the Liverpool world once again begins to revolve around Alonso, this is a neat little reminder of just how good his midfield partner was.

Mac Allister knew it, having praised Mascherano earlier this season. He may not have been part of the Argentina team which eventually delivered the World Cup for Lionel Messi, but he’s rightly celebrated by those who appreciate a gnarly, monstrous midfield general. We certainly do.