Liverpool FC’s Alexis Mac Allister has probably been the standout midfielder of the season thus far, and it’s a return to form after a very disappointing last season, when pundits and fans alike (me included) questioned whether he had permanently lost the legs and physicality to play in the Premier League.
In Liverpool beat reporter Dominic King’s new piece for the Telegraph, he had this to say at the end about Mac’s potential new deal:
“Liverpool are not in any rush to start talking about new contracts with Mac Allister, who they were able to sign on a cut-price £35m deal in June 2023, but if he keeps playing with this zip, he can change that situation too.“
The 27-year-old midfielder had expressed his thoughts about not being offered a new deal earlier this season:
“I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract, which of course makes me very, very sad,” he told reporters on Tuesday. Everyone can see I give 100 percent for this football club, every single day in training, games.“
“Of course, I can have very good games, bad games, like everyone, but I always give my best. I see Dominik and Ryan renewing their contracts, and that makes me very happy because they deserve it, but at the same time it makes me a little bit sad that I didn’t get mine.”
The chance of a Mac Allister extension after last season was close to zero, and Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch were obviously extended because they’re younger than Mac. However, in a strange twist of fate, the Argentinian has been playing the best of those three this season, and his fit as Andoni Iraola continues to try to find his best lineup combination in the middle of the park, despite injuries and suspensions, has been the easiest. He’s the best passer out of the trio (although Trey Nyonyi is knocking on his door) and offers something in both boxes.
Mac had this to say after the Villarreal game, noting the difference between this and last season:
“The way we play it is quite different. I don’t like to compare. I’m feeling good right now, that’s what I want, and that’s what I enjoy. From the first day we started working together, I saw something really important.“
“I think we are going in the right direction but if you look at the game today, it was far from perfect so we need to work, keep giving everything. It’s a really important year for us so hopefully we can win some trophies.”
I think the general populace always wants to see players who want to play for the club rewarded. I would not be opposed to a Mac Allister extension, but there are factors that work for and against him. With rumours of a midfielder addition in the upcoming winter and summer transfer windows, we’ll have to see how it plays out.