I saw £35m Liverpool player quietly become the complete package during Reds win against Leicester - opinion

Yesterday at 06:00 AM

Liverpool came from behind to sweep Leicester City aside with a Boxing Day win in the Premier League.

The Reds started well at a fog-laden Anfield but soon found themselves behind against the run of play.

With the possibility of dropping points against a side who started the game in the Premier League relegation zone, the Liverpool crowd got a little bit tetchy.

But while some of those in Red were not quite at their best during the opening 45 minutes, Alexis Mac Allister certainly was.

The Argentine was visibly trying to inject some intensity it Liverpool’s game, biting into tackles and getting the Reds on the front foot more than once.

And while this is something every Liverpool fan has come to expect from Mac Allister, the £35m man went on to add a little extra as the game progressed.

Alexis Mac Allister adds assists to his bow

Mac Allister has been superb ever since he joined Liverpool. The 26-year-old is simply a brilliant footballer.

However, the one thing that has been missing from his game a little too often is affecting the score sheet.

And while those who simply rely on goals and assists to measure a player’s performance are missing the point with someone like Mac Allister, there was a sense that he could do a little more in that respect.

Prior to Sunday’s game with Tottenham, for example, the World Cup winner had registered 0 goals and 0 assists in 14 Premier League outings.

READ MORE: Liverpool player ratings vs Leicester as 'unbelievable' forward makes statement but two Reds disappoint

Mac Allister had been giving Liverpool plenty more besides, but there was little question that this was the one area of his game which needed work.

Fast forward five days and Mac Allister now has one goal and two assists over two games. His header at Spurs was followed up by setting up Liverpool’s crucial first and second against Leicester. Is there anything Macca cannot do?

Mac Allister is now the complete midfielder

Liverpool really hit the jackpot when they landed Mac Allister. The No.10 is just so key to everything the Reds do.

There still may be some who question his mobility and pace a touch, but Mac Allister clearly has no problem getting around the pitch.

Ryan Gravenberch has been hailed frequently this season for being the full package as a midfielder. But as of yet the 22-year-old is yet to score in 23 games this term, while he has just one assist in that time, too.

Although Mac Allister’s passes for Cody Gakpo and Curtis Jones were his first assists of the year, the former Brighton man does now have three goals besides.

He also gets through a good chunk of the defensive work Gravenberch does, while providing even more in attack.

In short, Mac Allister answered back to any critics he may still have with a dominating and decisive display against Leicester. Long may it continue.