Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister didn’t have the best of games against Aston Villa on Monday.
Having been one of the Reds best players all season, Mac Allister has had a really good debut campaign at Anfield.
However, after being so crucial in the early parts of 2024, the Argentine has dropped off over recent weeks.
He is obviously not alone in that, although the dip in Mac Allister’s performance between April and May has been disappointing. It culminated in a sloppy error that allowed Villa’s Jhon Duran to get a goal back for Villa. From there, they inevitably found an equaliser.
It was a poor mistake from Liverpool’s No.10, who was caught in possession with his back to goal.
Despite the costly nature of his giveaway, that was far from the worst mistake of the game though. Mac Allister’s countryman Emi Martinez practically dropped the ball into the net to give the Reds the lead in just the second minute.
And after the game, the two compatriots connected over their errors at Villa Park.
What did Emi Martinez say to Alexis Mac Allister
If there’s any player who’s allowed a mistake in these final days of the season, then it’s Mac Allister.
The 25-year-old has excelled at times this season, showing just what a good player he is. Having held the midfield together at times, the World Cup winner now looks like he’s running on empty.
Part of what has made Mac Allister such a success at Anfield so far has been his attitude. Jurgen Klopp has called the former Brighton man a ‘football doctor’ for the way he approaches the game.
And this was evident again after his mistake against Aston Villa. Taking to Instagram, Mac Allister showed the kind of mentality that has taken him right to the top of the world game.
“Yesterday’s match feels like a defeat,” he writes. “When things aren’t going well, I am the first to criticise myself and I accept that; I realize it’s part of the game.
“Both the good and especially the challenging moments toughen us up and foster growth, both as a player and as a person. What matters most is how we respond to these experiences and the people who are there to support us. I have no doubt that this will make me stronger. Thank you for your constant support!”
Ever the joker, Martinez appeared in the comments to try and take the heat off the man he won the World Cup with in 2022.
“Y el mio no lo viste,” responds the goalkeeper, with a crying laughing emoji. This translates to something like “and you didn’t see mine.”
Will Alexis Mac Allister start against Wolves
Mac Allister has needed help in midfield for a little while now. But with the likes of Wataru Endo also running out of gas and Dominik Szoboszlai struggling, he hasn’t had much of it.
After looking a little bit spent on Monday though, Klopp surely needs to take Macca out of the firing line on Sunday.
He’s a wonderful footballer, and we think he’s going to flourish under Arne Slot next season. But his race is run for 2023/24.
Instead, it’s time for Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch or Curtis Jones to step up and leave a final impression on the season.
Head up Macca, we go again next year.