Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has made it to the Copa America semi-finals with Argentina.
The competition’s holders were given a big scare by Ecuador, who managed to take them all the way to penalties.
However, with the help of Liverpool’s No.10, Argentina were able to hold off the Ecuadorians and set up a semi-final date with either Canada or Venezuela.
Mac Allister is likely to face one of his Liverpool teammates if he and his nation can make it through to the final.
With Darwin Nunez, Alisson Becker and Luis Diaz all on the other side of the draw, Mac Allister is now one step closer to an Anfield showdown in Miami on July 15th.
How did Alexis Mac Allister do vs Ecuador?
Mac Allister has quickly become one of Lionel Scaloni’s key players in the Argentine national team.
The Liverpool midfielder had a terrific debut season for the Reds and is set to grow in importance under Arne Slot next term.
But before he can meet his new boss at the AXA Training Centre, Mac Allister will feel that he has a competition to win.
The 25-year-old was not in the squad when Argentina were victorious in 2021 and will be desperate to get another medal to stick alongside his World Cup and Carabao Cup golds.
READ MORE: Man City’s Julian Alvarez amazed by what Alexis Mac Allister has done at Copa America
And according to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, no outfield player for the Albiceleste did more than Mac Allister to ensure they marched on.
With other players around him scoring fours and fives and even the great Leo Messi scoring only a six, the Liverpool man is handed a rating of seven out of 10.
It’s claimed that ‘at the worst moment for Argentina, Mac Allister stood up.’ Hailed for ‘containing the turbulence’ in the midfield, Macca reportedly showed the ‘character’ to put his foot on the ball and ‘think.’
He’s also commended for claiming an assist – a lovely near-post flick on to guide the ball to the back post – and is said to have taken his penalty ‘impeccably’ in the shootout. What a player.
Alexis Mac Allister shows his importance
It shouldn’t have been a surprise that Argentina needed penalties to get past Ecuador. The World champions have regularly relied on spot kicks during their successful last few years.
As a result, again, the hero of the night was goalkeeper Emi Martinez who saved two penalties.
With Martinez rated as a ten out of ten though, Mac Allister earned the second highest score on the pitch.
In a separate report from Tyc Sports, Liverpool’s midfield maestro is explicitly named as ‘the best’ on the pitch aside from Martinez.
Burying another nerveless penalty and showing his class while others crumbled around him, Mac Allister is really growing in stature for his country. It bodes well for another year at Liverpool.
Let’s wait and see who from his Reds colleagues can join him in the semis.
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