Alexis Mac Allister was an impressive performer for Liverpool in the Goodison derby against Everton on Wednesday
Arne Slot believes the manner in which Alexis Mac Allister stepped up to the derby “fight” against Everton shows why the Liverpool midfielder has the mental resolve to win the biggest trophies. Mac Allister was the Reds’ most impressive performance as they scrapped out a controversial 2-2 draw in the final Goodison derby on Wednesday.
The midfielder, whose equaliser was his fourth goal of the season, will be expected to start at home to Wolves today with Liverpool aiming to once again move seven points clear at the Premier League summit.
And Slot reckons the performance of Mac Allister underlined why he was part of Argentina’s successful World Cup campaign just over two years ago.
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“All (my players) have their individual qualities, and together they are very, very strong, but it’s not a coincidence that Macca won the World Cup,” said the Liverpool boss.
“In the most difficult circumstances, which was Wednesday night, he stands up. That is something that really stands out with him. It was difficult, it was a hard game, so for him to be so good and to fight so hard, to be mentally that strong, that’s what you need if you want to win a tournament like the World Cup.
“There will be difficult moments in a game like this and you have to be ready not to feel sorry for yourself that everything goes against us – I don’t mean the referee, to be clear! He stood up and that was one of the reasons he played so well.
“I don’t think he had 25 through passes and that’s what we sometimes see from him as well, but it was a game that was more about fighting and he stood up, definitely.”
Slot could have a decision to make in attack with Cody Gakpo a doubt with a foot injury. Should the Holland international be unavailable, Luis Diaz would be expected to move to the left flank with either Darwin Nunez or Diogo Jota leading the attack.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to replace Conor Bradley at right-back, while Curtis Jones is suspended after his post-match dismissal at Everton and both Joe Gomez and Tyler Morton are injured.
Wolves stand just two points above the drop zone but have won their last two games 2-0, victors at Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup after a similar triumph at home to Aston Villa.