LiveScore Daily: Endo hails Liverpool's red-hot big Mac

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Alexis the great

Wataru Endo was quick to praise "incredible" Alexis Mac Allister after Liverpool's 1-1 draw with Premier League champions Manchester City.

Following a first-half opener from City defender John Stones at Anfield yesterday, Mac Allister remained ice cool to fire home an equaliser from the penalty spot in the 50th minute.

The draw did neither side any favours as fellow title contenders Arsenal finished the weekend at the top of the table following their last-gasp 2-1 win over Brentford.

But Endo preferred to focus on the importance of Mac Allister, 25, to Jurgen Klopp's side. He told Liverpool's website: "He's incredible.

"We always try to help each other, especially when we have the ball. I have a very good feeling with him.

"Now [the] injured players are coming back, little by little, I think we are on a good path.

"At the end of the season, this one point might be important. We need to keep playing like [this] and just try to win every game."

On the goal trail

Conor Gallagher is delighted to have started adding goals to his fine performances for Chelsea.

The England midfielder, 24, has been a shining light for Mauricio Pochettino's men during a disappointing campaign so far.

He has stood in as captain in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell, filling in whenever the full-backs have found themselves sidelined by injury.

And while Gallagher's future remains up in the air, he has netted four times in Chelsea's last six games to silence the critics who claim he does not deliver often enough in the final third.

Speaking in the club's official matchday programme ahead of tonight's Premier League clash with Newcastle, the academy product said: "It's definitely felt like a bit of a breakthrough.

"I've said it a number of times — I want to be a player that scores goals from midfield. I think I have the ability to do so and I wasn't able to do it so well earlier this season.

"That might be to do with luck, or to do with myself, but to score four goals in the last few games has been brilliant and fills me with more confidence to hopefully go on and get some more.

"I've been getting in the same positions all season, to be honest. It's really small margins.

"Thankfully, the boys have found me a few times and I've managed to score a few. But it's all about consistency, continuing to do that and helping the team score more goals."

We have the Vill to bounce back

Ollie Watkins insists yesterday's home humiliation at the hands of fellow Champions League hopefuls Tottenham does not define Aston Villa's season.

All eyes were on Villa Park as fourth in the Premier League hosted fifth, with Unai Emery's side edging the first half before being blown away after the break.

Goals from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson were followed by Villa skipper John McGinn seeing red for a reckless challenge on Destiny Udogie.

That dismissal killed off hopes of a comeback before Heung-Min Son and sub Timo Werner wrapped up a 4-0 hammering in stoppage time.

Watkins, 28, said: "Really disappointing. I felt in the first half they didn't cause us too many problems, I think they had one corner.

"They've scored two goals really quickly and it's very difficult against a good side to come back from 2-0. Obviously, with our captain getting sent off as well, it was difficult.

"But this doesn't define us, this game doesn't define our season.

"We've done unbelievable to get where we are and have still got a lot of football to play."

Lost his head

Lecce boss Roberto D'Aversa has been sacked after he headbutted a player following yesterday's 1-0 home defeat to Hellas Verona. 

D'Aversa lost his head at the final whistle as Verona striker Thomas Henry argued with Lecce defender Marin Pongracic.

He went over to intervene but instead ended up knocking Henry over in front of one of the match officials.

A statement from the Serie A side said: "After what happened at the end of the Lecce-Verona match, Lecce have relieved coach Roberto D'Aversa of his duties."

Replays appeared to show that it was a headbutt but D'Aversa, 48, who has since apologised, later said on Instagram that he did not use his head.

Both he and Henry were sent off. 

One of those days

Interim boss Mikey Harris revealed he had no complaints after Brighton were dumped out of the Women's FA Cup by Manchester United.

The Seagulls, who sit ninth in the Women's Super League on 14 points, were put to the sword by goals from Millie Turner, Nikita Parris, Lucia Garcia and Lisa Naalsund at the Broadfield Stadium.

And Harris was quick to take responsibility for the 4-0 hammering. He said: "It was a tough night. United were very good.

"They pressed really well. On a few occasions we got out but not consistently and I have to look at that and review how I can help the players better.

"I take responsibility for the way we want to play but you have to find ways of getting round the strategies of the opposition."

New look

Tom Cleverley has turned to a number of familiar faces to assist him during his time in charge of Watford.

Armand Kavaja, Damon Lathrope and Jimmy Gilligan, who have held various roles with the Hornets, are all part of interim boss Cleverley's backroom staff.

Kavaja, most recently the former Manchester United midfielder's assistant at Under-18 level, will work alongside Lathrope, the current head coach of the club's women's team.

Former Hornets striker Gilligan, head of technical development at Watford's academy, will take up the role of technical consultant.

Chris Douglas will also join 34-year-old Cleverley's staff as first-team analyst.