Since his transfer from Brighton & Hove Albion to Liverpool in the summer of 2023, Alexis Mac Allister has arguably established himself as one of the Premier League’s top midfielders. And in a candid moment, he revealed the one player in England who irritates him the most—so much so that he admitted he “feels like kicking” him.
It didn’t take long for the Argentine World Cup winner to win over the red half of Merseyside. Under both Jurgen Klopp and now Arne Slot, Mac Allister has become a fan favorite for his energy and influence on the pitch. In fact, he played a pivotal role in Slot’s title-winning debut season, featuring in nearly 50 matches across all competitions and facing off against some of the league’s trickiest opponents.
Mac Allister on the One Premier League Player Who Really Gets Under His Skin
“Even if you kick him, he just gets back up”
While players like Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku and Chelsea’s Cole Palmer are notoriously difficult to dispossess, Mac Allister singled out someone else entirely when asked about the most frustrating opponent he’s faced. That player? Jack Grealish of Manchester City.
Speaking in an interview reported by The Mirror, Mac Allister didn’t hold back, calling Grealish the kind of player who constantly gets under your skin with his antics on the pitch.
He said:
“Grealish – you feel like kicking him. But even when you do, he gets right back up. And somehow, that makes you feel like you’re winning.”
Known for his flair and ability to draw fouls, Grealish has always had a polarizing presence—going back to his early days at Aston Villa. While some of that flash has diminished slightly at Manchester City, his skillful footwork and ability to win fouls still make him a handful, especially on the left flank.
His playing style even prompted former Manchester United captain Roy Keane to liken him to Olympic diver Tom Daley. Commenting on a penalty Grealish won for City against Villa in 2023, Keane told The Daily Express:
“We’re saying Jack is more like Tom Daley, but I think it is a penalty, and it’s clever from Jack. He gets his body across and like Gary [Neville] said in commentary, he knows exactly what he’s doing.”
Mac Allister and Grealish have faced each other four times—starting from their respective spells at Brighton and Aston Villa. Mac Allister finally claimed his first win over Grealish during Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Manchester City in the 2024/25 season.