Alexis Mac Allister found himself in a strong position to apply pressure on Liverpool over a new contract before Atlético Madrid’s visit to Anfield last month, although only in the physical sense of being up on stage to preview the game in front of a mass audience. In reality, the 27-year-old’s negotiating stance was relatively weak. And in fairness to the Argentina international, he has been true to his word in flipping the narrative in his favour ever since.
As the past two Premier League champions prepare to meet at Anfield on Sunday, when Liverpool can narrow the gap on Arsenal to three points with a fourth successive home win in all competitions, Mac Allister’s form encapsulates the impressive improvement of Andoni Iraola’s team. He has become the indispensable part of Liverpool’s central midfield and to an extent that, merely seven weeks on from that headline-grabbing Champions League press conference, it is not only Mac Allister who thinks he deserves a contract extension. The following night he struck an immaculate winner against Diego Simeone’s side.
He has continued to walk the walk for a Liverpool team that has rediscovered its intensity and started to repair relations with the Anfield crowd as a result. Iraola said on Friday: “You mention the press conference he had and I was there also, after him. The most important thing from that is that he wants to stay here.
He wants to work hard, he wants to be at his best so he can continue here helping us. A player of that level who has achieved what he has achieved, who can be as clear as that with his intentions, is very good for us because I appreciate him a lot. He’s a top player.” A major influence when Liverpool won their 20th league championship under Arne Slot, Mac Allister faded badly in the Dutchman’s second and final season in charge.
He was not alone on that score but, despite reminding a global audience of his qualities as Argentina reached a second World Cup final in succession, rumours of an Anfield exit this summer were met with a general shrug of shoulders rather than howls of protest. Liverpool’s stance over a contract that had entered its final two years confirmed they also didn’t consider an extension a priority. The club have also been paying Mac Allister a lucrative salary from the moment he walked through the door in June 2023, having signed him for £35m – below market value – due to a release clause in his Brighton contract.
It was largely overlooked at the time of the Atlético press conference but Mac Allister’s refusal to use a painful groin injury as an excuse for last season’s struggles reflected the character of a winner. Figures from Opta show Mac Allister is winning more tackles per Premier League game this season – 2.3 on average compared to 1.8 last season; winning more duels (4.8 from 3.8); winning more aerial duels (0.9 from 0.6) and winning more possession (5.6 on average compared to 3.8). He is sacrificing the offensive side of his game to bring more aggression and organisation to the defensive aspect, and his touches in the opposition box, chances created, goals and assists are all down on last season as a consequence.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
