Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was urged to set up Mohamed Salah for more goals in the build-up to Sunday’s meeting with Brighton – and the World Cup winner duly obliged against his former club
Alexis Mac Allister revealed that Mohamed Salah had been asking him for more assists prior to them combining for Liverpool’s winning goal on Sunday.
The Reds recovered from an early setback to beat Brighton 2-1 at Anfield after Luis Diaz cancelled out Danny Welbeck’s opener, which arrived inside the opening 90 seconds of the match.
After spurning a number of golden opportunities, Salah plundered the winner in the 65th minute.
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It was Mac Allister who showed exceptional vision to thread the ball through the eye of a needle into Salah’s feet in the box – and he admitted post-match that the Reds talisman had been pestering the midfielder maestro to pick him out more ahead of the match.
Speaking to Sky Sports, the World Cup winner quipped: “He’s been asking for some passes and assists from me during the week! In the first half we tried to be connected – he missed a couple but then in the second half he showed his qualities.”
Victory against Mac Allister’s old club was enough to send Liverpool back to the Premier League summit ahead of the match between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Etihad.
The Reds playmaker admitted that he would probably watch Liverpool’s two title rivals slug it out with one of the two guaranteed to drop points ahead of the run-in.
“We didn’t start as we wanted but it was an amazing game,” Mac Allister said while giving his analysis of the match. “We played against an unbelievable team. I know them [Brighton] very well, I know what they can do and it was a tough match but in the end we won it and we are very happy.
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Salah scored the decisive goal for Liverpool on Sunday afternoon (
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“I would rather not concede so early but the mentality of the boys is amazing and that is what you need when you are 1-0 down, and today we showed it again. But next time we have to start the game winning, not losing.”
He added: “I will watch [Manchester City vs Arsenal] if I get home in time. It is a great football match, I will watch it and enjoy it but the result is not the most important thing.”
Liverpool headed into Sunday’s final fixture between City and Arsenal three points clear of the latter and four better off than the reigning champions, who are bidding to land a fourth consecutive Premier League crown.