I think Liverpool need to get serious about three contracts before they create problems that could have been avoided.
Alexis Mac Allister. Virgil van Dijk. Alisson Becker.
Three very different players, at different stages of their careers, but all three remain hugely important to Liverpool.
And if we’re serious about building a successful team under Andoni Iraola, I don’t think we can afford to let their futures drift without a clear plan.
We’ve already seen what happens when contract situations drag on for too long. Supporters spend months worrying about whether important players will stay, while the club risks losing control of the situation.
Liverpool need to get ahead of this rather than wait until it’s too late.
Mac Allister is the one I’m most concerned about
Let’s start with Alexis, because this situation genuinely bothers me.
Mac Allister has admitted that he was disappointed Liverpool had not offered him a new contract. He also revealed that he had opportunities to leave during the summer but chose to stay because he believes Liverpool can achieve something special.
That tells me plenty.
He wants to be at Liverpool. He wants to win trophies. He believes in what the club can achieve.
So why leave this situation hanging?
Mac Allister has been an important player for Liverpool since arriving from Brighton in 2023. He has intelligence, composure and the ability to dictate the tempo of a game. When he’s playing well, he gives Liverpool’s midfield a balance that is difficult to replace.
I know he had difficult spells last season. I’m not suggesting Liverpool should hand out contracts regardless of performances, and I understand that the club has to consider age, wages and long-term value.
But Mac Allister is 27. He should still have plenty of good years ahead of him.
For me, this is exactly the sort of player Liverpool should be trying to keep.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have both signed new deals, making Mac Allister’s situation even more noticeable. He has publicly said he will continue giving everything for Liverpool, but I don’t want us to reach a point where another club makes a serious move and suddenly we are scrambling to find a replacement.
Liverpool should be working towards a new deal with Mac Allister, not leaving him wondering where he stands.
van Dijk still has an enormous role to play
Then there’s Virgil van Dijk.
I know some supporters will look at his age and argue that Liverpool should be planning for the future rather than offering another contract.
Of course, we have to plan for the future. Nobody can play forever.
But I don’t believe you simply move on from a player like Van Dijk because he is getting older.
He’s Liverpool’s captain, a leader in the dressing room and an experienced defender who can help the younger players develop. His partnership with Jérémy Jacquet has also given Liverpool an encouraging foundation at centre-back.
Jacquet has enormous potential, but he’s still developing. Having van Dijk beside him can make a real difference, particularly when Liverpool are under pressure in difficult matches.
And let’s not forget the standards van Dijk has helped establish at this club.
He has experienced title races, Champions League nights and the pressure of playing for Liverpool when expectations are enormous.
That experience matters.
Reports in October have suggested Liverpool could be open to extending his contract, although there is no guarantee an agreement will be reached.
I’d certainly explore a sensible extension if Van Dijk continues to perform at the required level.
I’m not saying Liverpool should offer him a huge deal without considering the risks. The length of the contract, wages and his physical condition all matter.
But if he can continue contributing at a high level, why wouldn’t we want our captain to remain part of the project?
Liverpool need to manage his eventual succession properly. They don’t necessarily need to make him leave before that succession is ready.
Alisson is still worth keeping
And then we come to Alisson.
Honestly, I still think we sometimes underestimate just how important he is to Liverpool.
A goalkeeper’s job isn’t only about making saves. It’s about organising the defence, making the right decisions under pressure and giving the players in front of him confidence.
Alisson has done all of that for years.
He has been one of the most important signings of Liverpool’s modern era, helping the club win major trophies and providing world-class performances when they have mattered most.
Yes, Liverpool have Giorgi Mamardashvili waiting for his opportunity. He’s an important part of the club’s long-term planning, and Liverpool need to give him a pathway into the team.
But that doesn’t automatically mean Alisson should be moved on.
There is a difference between preparing for the future and rushing it.
I’d love Liverpool to keep Alisson for another couple of years, provided the terms make sense for both sides. He can continue performing at the highest level while Mamardashvili learns from one of the best goalkeepers around.
Liverpool’s manager, Iraola, has already made clear that he wants both Alisson and Mac Allister to remain at the club.
That is an important signal. These are players the manager values, and recruitment decisions should reflect that.
Three contracts, but three different decisions
I don’t think Liverpool should approach all three situations in exactly the same way.
Mac Allister deserves clarity about his future and a serious discussion about an extension.
van Dijk’s deal should reflect his importance, his performances and the need to plan for the next generation.
Alisson should be retained if Liverpool can agree terms that protect the club while allowing him to keep contributing.
Those are sensible decisions, not sentimental ones.
And that’s the distinction I want Liverpool to make.
I’m not asking the club to pay whatever these players demand. I’m asking it to recognise the value of experience, quality and continuity.
Liverpool have spent heavily on new players and are trying to build a team capable of competing for major honours. That investment will mean very little if we allow the experienced players who hold the side together to drift towards the exit without a proper succession plan.
Liverpool cannot afford another contract headache
What frustrates me is that these situations should be manageable if the club plans early.
Mac Allister’s unhappiness is already public. van Dijk’s future needs to be addressed. Alisson’s long-term role must be clear, especially with Mamardashvili waiting.
None of this means all three players will leave. Nor does it mean Liverpool should offer contracts without thinking carefully about the financial consequences.
But it does mean the club needs to make decisions.
For me, Mac Allister, van Dijk and Alisson are all worth keeping if the terms are right.
They bring different things to Liverpool, but each has a role to play in helping Iraola build a successful team.
Mac Allister can help control midfield. Van Dijk provides leadership and defensive experience. Alisson gives the team a goalkeeper capable of changing the outcome of a game.
Those qualities are difficult to replace overnight.
Liverpool should be building for the future without throwing away what already works.
Get the contract strategy right, give these players clarity and make sure the next generation is ready when the time comes.
Because keeping your best players is every bit as important as signing new ones.
And I really don’t want Liverpool learning that lesson the hard way.
By Jamie (The Kopite View)
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