Alexis Mac Allister was pivotal in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Chile, securing their advancement to the Copa America quarter-finals in a new role.
Argentina became the first team to clinch a quarter-final berth in this summer's Copa America with their second consecutive win on Tuesday night.
Despite challenging conditions and a late goal by Lautaro Martinez two minutes from time, Argentina is now assured of at least a second-place finish in Group A, with their final match against Peru on Saturday night.
Mac Allister, in his second tournament start, adopted a more defensive position as the deepest midfielder in Lionel Scaloni's quartet. Yet, the match's dynamics allowed the Liverpool midfielder opportunities to advance.
He opted for simplicity, successfully completing 54 of his 59 pass attempts, according to FotMob, and tied for the most shots taken in the game (four), including one close-range attempt that narrowly missed.
TyC Sports' Gaston Recondo praised Mac Allister with a seven-out-of-ten rating, noting, "He played as a No. 5, commanding the middle with ease and effectiveness. Alexis delivered a solid performance."
Similarly, Ryan Tolmich of GOAL lauded Mac Allister, also awarding a seven out of ten and commenting, "He was remarkable with the ball, showcasing excellent passing and creating several scoring opportunities for himself."
As Argentina prepares for the quarter-finals, their prolonged presence in the United States will inevitably affect Liverpool's pre-season schedule.
With Argentina's expected deep run in the tournament now confirmed, Mac Allister might miss the beginning of Liverpool's U.S. tour, which includes a match against Real Betis on July 2.
