Alexis Mac Allister reveals forgotten Liverpool star who inspired Premier League dream

Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.

And it is a former Reds star who helped inspire him to become a Premier League star: Maxi Rodriguez.

Mac Allister has become a huge fan favourite on Merseyside since his move from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2023.

His £35m move has been made to look a bargain and he made 35 appearances for Arne Slot's side last season as they won the title.

The Argentina international, a World Cup winner in 2022, joined Brighton in 2019 but was immediately loaned back to Boca Juniors - whose La Bombonera stadium is renowned as one of the most atmospheric in world football.

Now, speaking to GQ, he has likened the support of the Boca faithful to that which he now enjoys at Anfield, while revealing how getting into football was never not going to happen.

READ MORE:Angry Ruben Neves blasts magazine after questioning relationship with Diogo Jota’s widowREAD MORE:6 things to watch as Premier League returns with Alexander Isak and Ange Postecoglou centre stage

Mac Allister said: "When I was younger, there weren't many Argentinians in the Premier League but I used to wake up very early in the mornings to watch players like Carlos Tevez and Maxi Rodriguez.

I was a big fan of the Premier League, so I hope the next generations are doing the same with us, not just with me but with Argentinian players in general.

"In Argentina, it is quite hard not to get into football, but my dad never told us that we had to play football and it's not just me, my two brothers play football, one [Francis Manuel] in Argentina and the other one [Kevin] in Belgium.

"So it is definitely something that we chose.

I come from a big club in Argentina, Boca Juniors, and I always compare their fans with Liverpool fans, but I would say that the passion is the only similarity that we have because in terms of the culture and the country, it's quite different."

Maxi Rodriguez takes the acclaim from team-mates after scoring for Liverpool(Image: Colin Lane)Alexis Mac Allister kisses the World Cup trophy after Argentina's win in 2002(Image: Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Mac Allister and Argentina look to defend their World Cup crown next summer in USA, Canada and Mexico, having triumphed in Qatar.

Learn more

£49

£35

Sky

Get the deal here

Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.

Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.