Such poise is rubbing off on his Liverpool colleagues, their manager feeling compelled to comment that – panicky finishing in the first half apart – this was as mature and serene Liverpool have looked when faced with the reality that every game feels like it is win or bust for title hopes.
That’s the World Cup winners’ effect, presumably. When you have excelled in the biggest fixture there is, you are immune from the hysteria that can paralyse upon conceding a goal after 84 seconds, as Liverpool did to the evergreen Danny Welbeck in this captivating fixture.
There were certainly moments early on during Liverpool’s hard-fought 2-1 win over Brighton when Mac Allister appeared to be playing at a different speed to everyone else, as if he was the only one who put the clocks forward so it gave him the necessary time and space on the ball.
Usually, you can’t put a value on such calm and clarity matched with skill. Fortunately for Liverpool, Brighton did when they put a meagre £35 million buy-out clause in his contract.
How the Chelsea scouts watching Brighton and Argentina in 2022 must wish they can rewind and reconsider if Moises Caicedo looked like he was worth £115 million and Enzo Fernandez £106 million because of how much better they are when alongside Mac Allister.
Liverpool’s revival this season has been built upon a midfield reset. Initially as a No 6 and now as the creative hub, Mac Allister has emerged as a leader with as much influence higher up the pitch as Virgil van Dijk in defence.
Four exquisite passes to Mohamed Salah in the first half were a taste of what was to come in Liverpool’s latest comeback win. Salah’s wastefulness was not.
The Egyptian would make amends with the 65th minute winner from another brilliant Mac Allister assist, and despite Brighton’s continued menace the Kop could start singing about being top of the league again, albeit they knew that was pending the later outcome at the Etihad.
