I’m struggling to understand Liverpool’s thinking on Alexis Mac Allister.
According to Ben Jacobs, Liverpool do not currently intend to offer the Argentine midfielder a new contract. It is a worrying update, particularly when you consider how important he has become to this team and how much better he has looked under Andoni Iraola.
I could understand the club wanting to see how he performs over a longer period before making a decision. Last season was not his best, and Liverpool have every right to be careful with their money.
But there is a difference between being careful and allowing a player of Mac Allister’s quality to drift towards the final stages of his contract without a clear plan.
For me, Liverpool should be looking to keep him.
Have Liverpool forgotten how good he is?
Mac Allister arrived from Brighton for around £35 million in 2023, and he has already played a major part in Liverpool’s success.
He is a World Cup winner, a Premier League champion and a midfielder who can bring composure, intelligence and a bit of bite to the team. He is not perfect, and there have been games when he has struggled, but show me a midfielder who performs brilliantly every single week.
What I like about Mac Allister is that he can do the difficult things that sometimes go unnoticed. He can receive the ball under pressure, find a pass through the lines and help Liverpool control a game when things are getting messy.
He also has the quality to contribute in the final third, as we have seen again this season.
The performance against Villarreal was another reminder of what he can offer, with two goals helping Liverpool complete that remarkable 4-3 Champions League comeback.
That is the sort of contribution Liverpool need from their midfielders.
And yet, while Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have both been handed new deals, Mac Allister is still waiting.
I’m not suggesting those two players do not deserve their contracts. They do. But why does Mac Allister appear to be in a different category?
The contract situation is becoming uncomfortable
Mac Allister has already spoken publicly about how disappointed he was not to receive an offer.
He made it clear that he loves Liverpool and intends to give everything for the club, but he also admitted that the situation made him sad.
I don’t blame him for feeling that way.
Imagine being part of a Premier League-winning side, giving everything for the club and then watching teammates sign new contracts while your own future remains uncertain.
Of course, Liverpool have to make decisions based on age, performances, wages and the long-term direction of the squad. Football is a business, and sentiment cannot decide every contract.
But Mac Allister is 27. He is not approaching the end of his career, and his current deal runs until 2028. Liverpool still have time to negotiate rather than leaving themselves with a decision they may regret later.
If the club genuinely believes he is not part of its long-term plans, then supporters deserve to understand the thinking behind that decision.
If the plan is simply to wait and see how he performs, then I would argue he is giving them plenty of reasons to reconsider.
Who exactly are Liverpool going to replace him with?
This is the part that bothers me most.
Liverpool need to strengthen their midfield. I have said that before, and I still believe they need a specialist defensive midfielder who can give the team more protection.
But bringing in another midfielder should not automatically mean pushing Mac Allister towards the exit.
You can improve a squad without getting rid of one of your better players. In fact, that is exactly what Liverpool should be trying to do.
Mac Allister offers experience, technical quality and an understanding of what it takes to win at this club. Those things are not easily replaced, especially when a new manager is still trying to build his team.
If Liverpool sign another midfielder next summer, great. Let them compete for places. Let Iraola decide who starts and who needs to improve.
What I would not want to see is Liverpool allowing Mac Allister to leave and then spending a fortune trying to find someone who can do the same job.
There is no guarantee a replacement would settle quickly, either. We have seen enough expensive signings struggle to make an immediate impact to know that spending money does not always solve a problem.
Liverpool still have time to change their minds
The important point is that this is the situation as things stand. It does not mean Mac Allister is definitely leaving Liverpool, nor does it mean a new contract will never be offered.
A lot can change over the coming months.
If he continues performing well, scoring goals and helping Iraola’s side improve, Liverpool may have to look at this situation differently.
But the club also needs to think about the consequences of waiting too long. With his contract running until 2028, next summer could become an important point in the decision-making process.
Liverpool will not want to lose a valuable player for less than he is worth, and they will not want to leave themselves with too little time to find a replacement if a departure becomes necessary.
For me, the sensible option is to keep the door open and work towards an agreement if the player and club can find terms that suit both sides.
Mac Allister has already shown that he wants to be at Anfield. Liverpool should not take that for granted.
My verdict
I know football moves on, and no player should be guaranteed a new contract simply because of what he has done in the past.
But Mac Allister is showing what he can bring to this Liverpool team, and I would be very reluctant to let him go.
He is a quality midfielder who can still play an important role for years to come. Liverpool need more strength in depth, not another major question mark in an area of the pitch that already needs attention.
If Mac Allister keeps performing, I think Liverpool should change their stance and offer him a new deal.
The club has made plenty of good decisions in the transfer market, but this is one I would hate to see turn into a mistake.
Liverpool supporters have watched too many important players reach uncertain contract situations. We do not need another one dragging on when there is still time to sort it out.
Keep Mac Allister, strengthen the midfield around him and give Iraola the tools to build something.
That makes far more sense to me than letting one of our best midfielders slip away.
Jamie (The Kopite View)
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