Alexis Mac Allister closed out the international break in style with Argentina, and gave Liverpool a glimpse of what could have been in the process.
The midfielder was on the scoresheet as the defending world champions cruised to a 4-1 win over Brazil in Buenos Aires to confirm their place at the 2026 World Cup. Argentina becomes the first South American side to book their place at next year’s tournament, and the seventh country across the world to have qualified, with Liverpool teammate Wataru Endo also in that bracket with Japan.
Mac Allister will now be due to return to Merseyside ahead of next week’s return to Premier League action against Everton, when the Reds will be aiming to complete their title charge, and he’ll do so after rediscovering some of his best form while with his country.
Just a few days on from being involved in a bad-tempered affair with Darwin Nunez’s Uruguay, Mac Allister starred as Argentina brushed Brazil aside. Liverpool fans will no doubt have taken note that Julian Alvarez opened the scoring for the world champions amid links with a move to Anfield this summer.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez doubled the lead after just 12 minutes before Wolves’ Matheus Cunha pulled a goal back for Brazil, and no doubt added some more weight to the speculation surrounding his future.
Mac Allister though would restore Argentina’s two-goal advantage before half-time as he latched onto a superb ball from deep from Fernandez, turning the ball home past Bento who was filling in for the injured Alisson Becker.
(Image: Getty Images)
The goal gave Liverpool fans a glimpse of what might have been had things turned out differently just over a couple of years ago. Towards the end of 2022, with both Fernandez and Mac Allister starring for Argentina at the Qatar World Cup, the Reds were linked with a January move for the former.
In fact, reports from Portuguese outlet Record and Diario AS in Spain at the time suggested that Fernandez had reached a pre-agreement with Liverpool. Fans will of course know that a move never materialized for the midfielder, with Chelsea instead signing him for a British record transfer fee of around $131 million.
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Just a few months later, Mac Allister would complete his move to Liverpool from Brighton, with the pair unable to demonstrate the sort of understanding they’ve shown for their country at club level.
Atletico Madrid’s Giuliano Simeone would round off the scoring for Argentina in the second half, with Lionel Scaloni’s side booking their place at the World Cup with four games to spare in qualifying, meaning Mac Allister and his teammates will get the opportunity to defend their crown next year.,
Liverpool.com says: Congratulations to Mac Allister and Argentina on booking their place at next year’s World Cup. And good to see the midfielder returning to form, just in time for Liverpool’s charge toward the Premier League title.
