Alexis Mac Allister helped his country to a 2-0 victory over Australia in his first match since completing a move to Liverpool.
The Reds struck a £35million deal for Mac Allister last week, much to the delight of supporters. And the midfielder will be expected to make an instant impact once the new season gets underway.
Prior to linking up with his new team-mates when Liverpool players report for pre-season on July 8, Mac Allister must first get through international duties with the reigning World Cup champions. The Reds' new No.10 featured for 59 minutes as La Albiceleste defeated Australia on Thursday, a match which saw Lionel Messi score in a 2-0 win.
Lionel Scaloni's side will again be in action against Indonesia on Monday, a fixture which represents a further opportunity for match minutes. For Liverpool fans hoping to gain an insight into Mac Allister fared during his first outing, listed below is how the Argentinian media viewed his display.
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Olé provided the former Brighton man with a 7/10 rating and praised the positional play of Mac Allister during the near 60 minutes he spent on the pitch. "He played in a different position, more advanced, almost like a false nine, although withdrawing in the defensive phase," they wrote. "And he demonstrated his ease in adapting to another function: he not only combined perfectly the times he shared the band with Nico González, qualifying him twice but at the same time passing to receive almost as a striker. He had a clear shot after a pass from Messi, but it was demanded and it finished off over the crossbar."
Matching the above score handed out by Olé, TyC Sports were of the opinion the climate of China, where the friendly with Australia was staged, proved problematic at times. They said: "He arrived with fatigue and, added to the tremendous heat in Beijing, there was not much room for the dynamics that Alexis usually brings. He had a starting chance but afterwards was always away from the goal. He was replaced by Lo Celso with half an hour to go."
Rounding off this review, El Litoral singled out Liverpool's new recruit for his willingness to commit himself in dangerous areas of the pitch as Argentina searched for goals.
"Argentina handled the game at will, against an outmatched rival," they reported. "A lot of pressure to recover, patience in handling the ball, precision, surprise appearances by the midfielders (especially Mac Allister, very determined to step into the opponent's area) and a lot of solvency in all sectors of the pitch. Even Messi himself had a propitious situation when he entered the right side of the area and hit the right against the outside of the net. It was the moment of constant dominance, in which Argentina had the remnants of the world champion."
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