Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister in fiery clash with Arsenal newcomer

Alexis Mac Allister is not one for backing down in the face of perceived injustice – a point that will not be lost on Piero Hincapié in the aftermath of an uncompromising World Cup qualifying clash between Ecuador and Argentina on Wednesday night. 

Both sides finished a man light in the port city of Guayaquil, with Argentina defender Nicolás Otamendi dismissed for a first-half challenge that led to Enner Valencia’s decisive penalty, before Ecuador lost Moisés Caicedo to a second yellow card after the break.

But it was the 62nd-minute introduction of the Real Madrid playmaker Franco Mastantuono that led to the flashpoint between Mac Allister and Hincapié. 

What happened between Franco Mastantuono and Piero Hincapié?

The Ecuador full-back, who moved to Arsenal on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen at the start of the month, was clearly in no mood to be upstaged by Mastantuono as the 18-year-old eclipsed Diego Maradona as the youngest player in Argentina’s history to don the iconic No 10 shirt.

Hincapié had already taken exception to a late challenge by Mastantuono by the time the fleet-footed teenager made a mazy stoppage-time run into the box, and when he executed an immaculately-timed tackle to stop the Argentinian in his tracks, he gloated aggressively over the prone midfielder.

https://twitter.com/DailyAFC/status/1966060848943616475

That drew a furious reaction from Mac Allister, who made his feelings known to the Arsenal man in no uncertain fashion, ignoring the referee’s efforts to come between them as got in the shocked Hincapié’s face to hurl a stream of invective at the left-back.

‘You are not like that’

Nor was the Liverpool midfielder done there. 

Mac Allister later posted footage of the clash to his Instagram account alongside the words “Vos no sos asi” – “You are not like that.” The 26-year-old also tagged Hincapié in the post and, while the inclusion of crossed swords and crying-with-laughter emojis lightened the tone, its import is unlikely to be lost on the Premier League newcomer in a season when Liverpool and Arsenal are expected to vie for domestic supremacy.

Hincapié appeared to take it all in good heart, commenting “Cómo te gusta papi” – “How do you like it daddy?” – while Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike all liked Mac Allister’s post.

Liverpool defeated Arsenal 1-0 at Anfield before the international break, with Arne Slot’s side scheduled to travel to the Emirates in early January for the return fixture.