Why does Mac Allister have to wear a protective helmet in the big match against MU?

In the high-stakes game between Liverpool and Manchester United on October 19 in the Premier League, midfielder Alexis Mac Allister attracted notice as he wore a protective helmet at the beginning of the first half.

Right from the opening minutes at Anfield, the atmosphere became intense. However, just 62 seconds into the game, the stadium erupted due to a highly controversial moment. In an attempt to stop Manchester United’s counterattack, Mac Allister and Van Dijk collided forcefully, causing the Argentine midfielder to fall clutching his head in pain. Despite this, referee Michael Oliver did not stop the game, allowing play to continue.

Taking advantage of that moment, Amad Diallo delivered a clever through ball to Bryan Mbeumo, and the Cameroonian striker easily beat Giorgi Mamardashvili to score the opening goal for the “Red Devils” just over a minute after kickoff. This early goal stunned the Kop stands, while Liverpool fans expressed outrage, feeling their team was clearly disadvantaged.

After conceding the goal, Mac Allister received extended treatment from medical staff before returning to the pitch. For safety reasons, he was required to wear a specialized protective headgear, commonly seen on players who have suffered head injuries like Petr Cech or Cristian Romero. Images of Mac Allister playing with the helmet quickly spread on social media, making him the focal point of the match.

During the live commentary, Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury revealed why the referee did not stop the game: “According to information from the Match Centre, Michael Oliver did not see the collision and therefore could not halt the match.”

This further infuriated Liverpool supporters, who believed that incidents involving head injuries should be handled more cautiously. Some fans even argued that Mbeumo’s goal should have been disallowed to ensure fairness.

Although Liverpool pushed forward afterward, Cody Gakpo managed only to equalize at 1-1 before Harry Maguire scored the winning goal for Manchester United at Anfield, securing the Red Devils’ first victory there since 2016.

After the match, Man Utd coach Ruben Amorim praised his team’s fighting spirit, while Liverpool remained dissatisfied with the referee’s decisions. As for Mac Allister, despite his injury and playing under special conditions, he showed commendable effort throughout the remainder of the game.

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