The 248th Merseyside Derby on April 19, 2026, will be remembered for two things: the historic first-ever meeting at Everton’s brand-new **Hill Dickinson Stadium** and a masterclass from one man that Jamie Carragher believes has redefined his position in the Premier League.
While Mohamed Salah grabbed the headlines by matching Steven Gerrard’s derby goal-scoring record, it was the engine room performance behind him that left Carragher speechless. Following Liverpool’s gritty 1-0 victory, Carragher awarded a rare **10/10 rating** to midfield talisman **Alexis Mac Allister**, claiming the Argentine is currently without an equal in the top flight.
## “Like Schoolboys”: The Gerrard Comparison
Carragher, never one for hyperbole when it comes to his former club, was visibly moved by Mac Allister’s dominance in the middle of the park. Speaking on the post-match broadcast, Carragher urged fans to look past the scoresheet to see the true “poetry in motion.”
> “Forget the goals and the assists for a second. Look at the distance covered and the duels won. I haven’t seen a Merseyside Derby performance this dominant since Steven Gerrard in his prime. He made them look like schoolboys.”
>
Mac Allister’s statistics from the match back up the “10/10” praise:
* **Duels Won:** 14 (Most on the pitch)
* **Distance Covered:** 12.8km
* **Tackles:** 6/6 successful
* **Pass Accuracy:** 91%
### Dominating the “Blue Wall”
In a match defined by high tension and Everton’s physical approach under David Moyes, Mac Allister acted as both the shield and the sword. Despite the hostile atmosphere of the Toffees’ new home, he consistently bypassed Everton’s press, making seasoned veterans look static.
## The Best in the Premier League?
Carragher didn’t stop at the derby performance. He doubled down on his assessment of Mac Allister’s trajectory over the 2025/26 season, placing him above the likes of Rodri or Declan Rice in current form.
“We talk about world-class holding midfielders or ‘number eights’, but Mac Allister is playing both roles simultaneously,” Carragher noted. “Right now, he is the best in the Premier League in his position. He has the brain of a playmaker and the heart of a defender. There isn’t another player in England you’d trade him for today.”
## A Historic Afternoon
While Mac Allister provided the steel, the history books will also reflect a milestone for **Mohamed Salah**. By scoring the game’s only goal in the 27th minute—following a disallowed Everton opener from Iliman Ndiaye—Salah became the first player to ever score in a derby at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The win keeps Arne Slot’s side firmly in the hunt for a Champions League spot, moving them five points clear of their blue neighbors. However, for Carragher and the traveling Kop, the day belonged to the “Argentine Gerrard” who simply refused to lose a 50/50 ball.
**The Verdict:** If Liverpool are to secure a top-four finish in this transitional era, they’ll need more 10/10 displays from the man who, according to Carragher, has officially graduated from a star to a Premier League icon.
About The Author
