A NEW Steven Gerrard has just EMERGED at Liverpool

Playing for Liverpool is like living life on the edge of your seat.

Often performances will be dominant and controlled, but on other occasions, the club's clutch gene kicks in.

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During his time at the club, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard was the embodiment being a clutch player. Grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck and making certain that the Reds were to be on the winning side.

Across his 17-year career, from 1998 to 2015, the scouse midfielder had a deep connection with the fans and wore his heart on his sleeve, leading the team into battle and leaving everything he had on the pitch.

His desire to win was unparalleled and whether it be a feisty European contest, an intense domestic rivalry, or any other regular match, he was an absolute monster.

When Liverpool took to Anfield on Wednesday night for the next instalment of their long-historic battle with Real Madrid, the team needed someone to step up.

Liverpool hadn't won against Los Blancos since 2009, with crushing defeats like the Champions League finals of 2019 and 2023 coming along the way.

So after 51 minutes of tense action, where most of Liverpool's efforts at goal had either been comfortably saved by Thibaut Courtois or sailed over the bar, one midfielder decided enough was enough.

Alexis Mac Allister's clutch gene

Following a tidy one-two with star of the evening Conor Bradley, Mac Allister got his shot away, carefully placing the ball tight into the bottom right corner to give Liverpool a deserved lead.

Alas, a sigh of relief rang out in the stadium. Liverpool had played with dignity against their European foes, and finally had something to cling onto for the remainder of the game should the Argentine's finish be the only breakthrough of the night - although Cody Gakpo later added a towering header to allow the Reds to win 2-0.

Mac Allister is by and large an unusual midfielder. He runs the channels well and works tirelessly to support Ryan Gravenberch in defensive midfield, while occasionally foraying forward to assist the forwards by recycling the ball ready for a full-back to make a cross into the box.

It was only his second goal of the season for the Reds, and yet over the two seasons he's played at Liverpool, he's scored nine goals, popping up just when his side needs him.

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As per Michael Reid's observations, the World Cup winner has scored six goals that have given Liverpool the lead, two equalisers and five winning goals.

Likewise, his finishes can be analysed too, with two penalties coming in the nine goals - extending his impressive career record of 12/13 penalties scored (92.31%).

He's not impartial to an occasional screamer as well - just think back to Liverpool's tight contest against Fulham at Anfield last season.

The Argentine maestro focuses on the intangibles, the work behind the scenes work that keeps Liverpool ticking over - an aspect which makes him a very Klopp-like midfielder.

But when the time comes, when Liverpool need a hero, as they did against Real Madrid in a real legacy match, Mac Allister very often comes to the fore, just as Steven Gerrard did time and time again throughout his career.

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