'We have to keep improving' - Alexis Mac Allister on Liverpool's post-international break aims
Alexis Mac Allister wants Liverpool to focus on improving their performance levels when they return from the November international break.
The Reds signed off from Premier League action with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.
Mac Allister opened the scoring in the win with a well-placed header, while goals from Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak helped secure the spoils, before Eddie Nketiah’s late consolation penalty for the hosts.
Following the contest, the midfielder reflected on the game and set out his aims for when the Liverpool squad reconvene later this month.
Read what he had to say to BBC Sport below…
On scoring his first Premier League goal of the season...
It feels good. It's the first one in the Premier League, but I scored twice in the Champions League and in another competition, so it's great to score, especially in a set-piece because it's something that I like. I think people and the coaching staff are realising I like it as well. It's nice to score and to put the game to 1-0 and then I think we played a good game. Sometimes we can control it a little bit better but all in all I think it was a good performance.
On scoring from set-piece situations...
We do work [on them] and we know how important it is. The other day we lost a game where we conceded three set-pieces. Today we won it because we scored from it so we understand how important it is, especially in football nowadays and the Premier League is becoming more and more physical. We saw it last season how important set-pieces are so we work on it and we're getting the results.
On the victory and performance...
It was a difficult game. We know that when we come to Crystal Palace that it's always going to be a difficult game. They can play very good football but I think we defended the box quite well, especially our centre-backs, they were really, really good. But it was difficult. Sometimes we tried to press and it was not perfect, so they could come out from it and they created chances. We are glad with the result but we know that this is far from perfect and we have to keep improving.
On Alisson Becker's performance...
He's so good - especially the save from [Daichi] Kamada's shot [in the first half]. Kamada couldn't believe the save he made and he was telling me. But that's who he is - he is an amazing goalkeeper and an amazing guy as well. I'm really, really happy for him.
On securing a victory ahead of the international break...
Definitely. It's really, really important. That was our goal, especially when you have an international break. It's really important to win so we are glad with the result but we have to keep improving because this is far from perfect.
