Alexis Mac Allister says a Liverpool star inspired his Premier League dream – “I really admired him.”

Alexis Mac Allister has drawn parallels between the passionate fanbase of Liverpool and that of Boca Juniors in Argentina, as he reflected on his journey to the Premier League and the influence of former star Maxi Rodriguez on his career.

Since arriving from Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2023, Mac Allister has quickly become a fan favourite at Anfield, featuring in 35 matches last season under Arne Slot as Liverpool clinched the Premier League title with four games remaining.

The Argentine midfielder originally joined Brighton from Argentina in 2019, before returning on loan to Boca Juniors — a club known for its electric atmosphere at La Bombonera stadium. In an interview with GQ magazine, he compared the passion of Boca supporters to that of the Anfield faithful.

“When I was growing up, there weren’t many Argentinians in the Premier League, but I would get up early to watch players like Carlos Tevez and Maxi Rodriguez,” Mac Allister said. “I was a huge fan of the Premier League, and I hope the next generation feels the same about us — not just me, but all Argentine players.”

He shared that football was always a natural path for him and his brothers — Francis Manuel, who plays in Argentina, and Kevin, who plays in Belgium — though their father never pushed them into the sport. “We made that choice ourselves. Watching our dad play inspired us, and football has given us so much. It’s a true passion for us.”

Discussing the similarities between Boca Juniors and Liverpool fans, Mac Allister said: “The passion is the biggest common factor. I come from a massive club in Argentina, and I always compare Boca fans to Liverpool’s. But aside from the passion, the cultures and countries are quite different.”

A World Cup winner with Argentina in 2022, Mac Allister described that experience as unforgettable. “Playing in a World Cup is very special. I had the chance to play and win, which isn’t easy. The last one was during the season, and the next will be different. But I never think about the future or worry about injuries — I believe in giving 100% every game.”

Looking ahead to Argentina’s title defense, he admitted it won’t be easy. “There are many strong teams and players, and winning back-to-back World Cups is extremely difficult. But we’re hungry to win again — that’s our mentality: to always aim higher.”

Mac Allister played the entire match as Argentina fell 1-0 to Ecuador in a game played early Wednesday morning (UK time).