‘Performance of the day’: BBC pundit’s genius Alexis Mac Allister gag leaves fans in stitches on Match of the Day

FESTIVE cheers was apparent for many during the final Premier League weekend before Christmas.

And it was certainly a given in the Match of the Day studio as well, as one witty joke left fans in stitches.

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Liverpool's 6-3 thriller against Tottenham was the headline act of the programme.

And while analysing the goals from the game, Shay Given was in top form with a clever Christmas gag.

The joke came while talking Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister after he was allowed to ghost into the box unmarked before netting the Reds' second of the game.

Seeing Spurs defenders fail to pick up the Argentine, the former goalkeeper quipped: "Not the first Mac Allister to be left alone at Christmas."

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Reacting on social media, one fan said: "What a line hahaha."

A second said: "Haha!! Brilliant!"

A third added: "This is A+ commentary and creativity."

Another said: "Oh that is superb stuff."

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For the uninitiated, the gag was a reference to Christmas classic film Home Alone.

In the film, an eight-year-old boy by the name of Kevin McCallister - played by Macaulay Culkin - is left behind when his family leaves from France, and things take a twist when thieves try to break into the family home.

In an ironic twist that makes the joke even better, Mac Allister has an older brother called Kevin who currently plays for Belgian side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

The nine-goal thriller left Liverpool four points clear at the top of the table with a game in hand after Chelsea had been held to a goalless draw with Everton earlier in the day.

Meanwhile, Spurs were left in the bottom half of the table, eight points adrift of the top four.