Alexis Mac Allister helps Liverpool secure another comeback vs Leicester despite bad luck | OneFootball

Alexis Mac Allister was on top form as Liverpool beat Leicester City 3-1 to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

The Reds went into their Boxing Day game against Leicester with the benefit of knowing how their rivals had got on earlier in the day. Chelsea had lost to Fulham, while Manchester City dropped more points in a draw with Everton.

A title race that was already in Liverpool’s control would have been even more so if they could capitalise.

It didn’t get off to the best start with Jordan Ayew striking for Leicester in the sixth minute. The goal was well-taken by Ayew, who got his shot off quite quickly on the turn after his first touch — with Alisson beaten by the slightest of nicks off Virgil van Dijk.

Throughout the rest of the first half, Liverpool continued to huff and puff through the fog at Anfield. They hit the woodwork twice in the first half, taking their tally to 12 for the seven — no team have hit the woodwork more times in the Premier League than Liverpool.

It took the Reds until first-half injury time to get the equaliser. Cody Gakpo was the goalscorer, netting his fourth goal in his past five Premier League games at Anfield. It was the second time Liverpool had scored from outside the box this season, with Gakpo scoring both.

While that goal was all about Gakpo, Mac Allister did get the assist, and it was no less than his game deserved.

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A player like Mac Allister doesn’t need goals and assists to have good games. But it does make it easier for fans to call attention to performances. You remember goals (and sometimes assists) more than you will duels and defensive actions in midfielders.

Against Leicester, Mac Allister did have both.

He created two chances and made 31 passes into the final third, the latter being the third-most among Liverpool’s players. The Argentine also only misplaced six of his 50 attempted passes, with 90.3% final third passing accuracy.

Mac Allister won eight duels, more than any other Liverpool player, and won possession five times including once in the final third. He made four tackles, a match high, but did commit five fouls. You can look at that two ways: either he needed to work on his tackling, or he was expert at committing fouls at the right time. There were a mixture of the two, with a bit of back luck with soft calls thrown in.

And Mac Allister got his second assist just after half-time, playing in Curtis Jones for the match winner. It’s just the second time Mac Allister has provided two assists in a single Premier League game, also doing so against Luton Town in February. After 24 games without a Premier League assist, Mac Allister had two in a matter of minutes (if we exclude the half-time break).

Mohamed Salah wrapped up the scoring with his party piece, netting his 100th home Premier League goal in his 142nd such game. The Egyptian has now either scored or assisted in his last 10 Premier League games, and is the first player to do so on three separate occasions.

Even with Leicester taking the lead, fans shouldn’t have been surprised to see Liverpool take all three points. The Reds have now won 12 points from losing positions in the Premier League this season — only Man City (14) have won more.