'Always alert' - South American newspapers hail Liverpool star's 8/10 goalscoring performance

Alexis Mac Allister shook of a fitness concern to deliver a goalscoring performance in Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Chile.

The Liverpool midfielder had been suffering pain in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup qualifier. He’s featured in every minute of the Reds’ opening three Premier League victories this season.

But Mac Allister was given the green light to feature and made his mark. With the game goalless at half-time, Mac Allister put Argentina ahead just three minutes into the second half when he rounded off a fine team move. It proved decisive as La Albiceleste had to wait until the 84th minute to double their lead through Julian Alvarez before Paulo Dybala put the gloss on the triumph in stoppage-time.

Mac Allister is a key player for Argentina, having helped them win the World Cup in 2022 and the Copa America earlier this summer. His performance against Chile was another eye-catching one as La Albiceleste took another step closer to qualifying for the World Cup in two years time.

Argentine newspaper Clarin gave Mac Allister an 8/10 player rating for his performance and commented: “As a left-sided midfielder, he was able to play both marking and playing. Always alert to make the right pass or to attack the space as in the goal.”

La Gaceta also handed out Mac Allister an 8 and said: “He moved forward a few meters to create danger and he succeeded. He took advantage of Lautaro Martínez's feint without the ball and opened the scoring.”

Meanwhile, Mendoza Post delivered the ex-Brighton man a highly-respectable 7. The newspaper said: “After a discreet first half, as soon as the second half began he opened the account in the first one he touched.”

Yet La Voz were harsher as they delivered Mac Allister only a 6 for struggling in the first half. It commented: “He didn't appear in the PT, then in the second he grew up, scored and played.”