Liverpool’s chaotic 4-3 victory over Villarreal was another reminder that when the pressure is at its highest, Alexis Mac Allister has a habit of stepping up.
The Argentine midfielder has been at the centre of attention in the opening stages of the season following his comments about Liverpool’s contract situation, admitting his disappointment at not being offered a new deal.
However, while discussions surrounding his future continue, his performances on the pitch are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
The 27-year-old's latest Champions League goal against Villarreal was another decisive contribution in a thrilling encounter, but it also carried historical significance.
The strike took him to eight goals in 23 appearances in the competition for Liverpool, equalling Fernando Torres’ record of eight goals in 24 games.
Having already delivered against Atletico Madrid in Europe and found the net against Tottenham in the EFL Cup, the Argentine midfielder is making scoring at Anfield quite the habit.
Alexis Mac Allister joins Fernando Torres in Liverpool record books
The midfielder’s European scoring record is particularly impressive when compared with his Premier League numbers.
The midfielder has scored 19 goals in 112 Premier League appearances for Liverpool, averaging a goal every 5.89 games. In the Champions League, however, he has found the net eight times in 23 appearances, scoring approximately once every 2.88 games.
That is a better scoring rate than Steven Gerrard managed in the competition for Liverpool. The Reds legend scored 21 goals in 73 Champions League appearances, averaging a goal every 3.48 games.
🤯🔝 Alexis Mac Allister moved into Liverpool's all-time Champions League top 10 with his two goals vs. Villarreal!
— This Is Anfield (@thisisanfield) October 20, 2026
1. Mo Salah - 47 in 83 games
2. Sadio Mane - 24 in 55 games
3. Roberto Firmino - 22 in 57 games
4. Steven Gerrard - 21 in 73 games
5. Luis Garcia - 10 in 24 games… pic.twitter.com/77vykSphEB
The World Cup winner has also moved into Liverpool’s all-time top 10 Champions League goalscorers, putting himself within touching distance of the top five. Luis Garcia, who scored 10 times in 24 appearances, is just two goals ahead of him.
Even more remarkably, all eight of the 27-year-old's Champions League goals for Liverpool have come at Anfield. No player in Champions League history has scored more goals with every one of them coming at the same stadium.
Mac Allister keeps delivering on the biggest stage
The variety of Mac Allister’s goals makes his scoring run even more impressive.
He has scored twice against Villarreal and Qarabag, alongside goals against Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Bologna. His strikes have demonstrated his ability to threaten from distance, arrive in dangerous positions inside the penalty area and exploit opportunities in the air.
For Spanish sides visiting Anfield, Mac Allister is becoming an unwelcome addition to the itinerary. Only five times has the Argentine made an appearance at Anfield when a visiting Spanish side is visiting in the Champions League, but has scored five of his goals against Spanish opposition.
Fernando Torres is just the midfielder’s latest Spanish victim.
His aerial threat is also becoming an unexpected feature of his game, after scoring an impressive header to equalise against Villarreal this week. Despite standing at just 5ft 9in, Mac Allister has scored three headed goals for Liverpool in the Champions League, consistently finding space in the box and timing his runs to perfection.
His performances have been about more than goals, but his recent scoring run has made him increasingly difficult to ignore, especially with the injury concerns surrounding his midfield partner Dominik Szoboszlai.
The contract situation remains an important talking point, but Mac Allister is making sure his football does the talking.
Three goals in three Champions League games have transformed a discussion about his future into a reminder of just how valuable he is to Liverpool.
And if Anfield continues to bring out this version of the Argentine, El Nino may not be the last Liverpool great whose European record he threatens to leave behind.
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