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Mac Allister a bargain

The time may not have quite come for the jury to deliver their verdict, but the outcome is unlikely to be any different: is there a better value for money Premier League signing this season than Alexis Mac Allister?

Even before the Argentina World Cup winner kicked a ball for Liverpool, there was a sense the Reds had pulled off a bargain by triggering his £35million release clause at Brighton.

So it has proved.

“Alexis is exactly the player I hope he would be,” said Jurgen Klopp on Friday, although it’s only when operating in his preferred advanced midfield role that Mac Allister has truly prospered.

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By some distance Liverpool’s most creative force in the first half here against his former club, that quality ultimately made the difference with his crisp pass in for Mohamed Salah to score the winner.

Having been at fault for a goal on his return to the South Coast in October, there would undoubtedly have been a sense of making amends.

Mac Allister created the most chances of the match and had a 92% pass accuracy, while the defensive resolve required during his stint earlier in the season as a number six was evidenced in six ball recoveries.

He also now has 12 goal contributions this season, the joint most from a Liverpool midfielder.

This is most definitely the player Liverpool had hoped for.

Salah persistence pays off

Even when he’s not at his sparkling best, Mohamed Salah just cannot stop writing records for Liverpool this season.

His tally against Brighton of 12 shots was the most by any Reds player in a Premier League match since such statistics were being regularly collated.

The one that counted midway through the second half, tucked away first time with his left foot, was his 22nd goal of the season in all competitions to secure Jurgen Klopp’s 300th win as Reds manager.

It also moved him on to nine goals against the Seagulls – more than any other Liverpool player in history – with his assist for Luis Diaz’s leveller his sixth against the South Coast side, more than against any other opponent.

While Salah’s fitful finishing prompted some groans from the Anfield crowd, that the Egyptian continues to contribute key moments underlines his importance and why, making his first Premier League start since New Year’s Day, Liverpool have done so well in his extended absence to stay in the title conversation.

After two injury absences, the ring-rust is now being shaken from Salah.

If the Reds are to claim a second championship under Klopp, their leading scorer will be pivotal.

De Zerbi vanquished

The remaining weeks of the season will be all about the here and now for Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp embarks on his final lap as Anfield manager.

But it was impossible to prevent some thoughts momentarily drifting to life after the German, not least due to the presence of Roberto De Zerbi in the opposing dugout.

With Xabi Alonso having declared his allegiance to Bayer Leverkusen for at least another season, so interest among Liverpool fans has been rekindled in the abilities of Brighton boss De Zerbi as one of those strongly linked to succeed Klopp, although Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim has emerged as the new favourite.

De Zerbi was unbeaten in four previous games against Klopp but couldn’t conjure a winning formula here, with Liverpool having learned from past experience to sidestep a notable banana skin.

Another awaits on Thursday with the visit of rock-bottom Sheffield United, who have shown some signs of life under the irascible Chris Wilder.

It will, though, be a final Premier League match under the lights for Klopp and Liverpool.

This could yet be a special season and a glorious farewell.


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