Alexis Mac Allister joined Liverpool over the summer (Photo: Getty)
Alexis Mac Allister is relishing the chance to play against his brother when Liverpool take on Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League.
Liverpool host the Belgian side on Thursday night as they look to continue their winning start to their European campaign and bounce back from their first defeat of the season against Tottenham.
Though much of the build-up to the game has centred around the fallout from the controversial loss at Spurs, with Jurgen Klopp now saying that the match should be replayed.
But for two players the game will hold a special place in their hearts no matter what the result as Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister will face-off against his brother, Union SG defender Kevin Mac Allister.
‘I remember one of the staff told me that we were in the same group,’ Alexis told Kevin in a promotional video on Liverpoolfc.com.
‘I couldn’t believe it. I told him to show me because I thought it wasn’t true. For me, it was pretty special.’
Kevin meanwhile found out the news while travelling back from an away game, saying: ‘The pilot said first LASK, after Toulouse and then made a little pause.
Kevin Mac Allister joined Union Saint Gilloise over the summer (Photo: Getty)
‘And I think, “Well, we can’t play against Liverpool”. And then [they said] Liverpool!
‘Of course, I played against my brother [before] and it was really special. But for me to play at Anfield – if the coach puts me in the XI, of course – in one of the best stadiums in history, I can listen to You’ll Never Walk Alone, all of that will be incredible for me.’
Given that Kevin has quickly established himself as a key player for Union SG since his summer move, it’s very likely he’ll start, though Alexis may not feature if Klopp decides to rotate his team.
As Kevin mentions, the siblings have come up against each other before, while playing back in Argentina in 2019 – though the defender never actually got on the pitch – a game that also featured the other Mac Allister brother, Francis.
World Cup winner Alexis has made a good start to life at Anfield since his summer move from Brighton, but has jokingly warned Kevin that he is in for a tough night on Thursday.
‘After the game, we can speak. But hopefully you don’t enjoy it!,’ he said, laughing.
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‘I want you to suffer! And hopefully after the game you will not want to play against us again!
‘I can tell you because I’ve been in Anfield as a Liverpool player and as an away player as well. I can tell you that as an away player, you will feel the stadium and the crowd.’
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