Published : 09 Sep 2026, 05:00 PM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:49 AM
Alexis Mac Allister was supposed to be talking about the Champions League.
Instead, on the eve of Liverpool's Champions League opener against Atlético Madrid at Anfield, the Argentina midfielder raised a more uncomfortable question about what his future at the club might look like.
Mac Allister revealed on Tuesday that Liverpool have told his representatives they are not currently in a position to offer him a new contract.
For a player who says he had opportunities to leave during the summer, chose to stay and has watched two of his midfield partners commit their futures to the club, the news clearly stung.
"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, according to Reuters.
There was no transfer request or suggestion that Mac Allister is looking for the first route out of Anfield. Quite the opposite.
The 27-year-old said Liverpool remain the "right club" for him and insisted he will continue giving everything for as long as he is there, having stayed partly because he believes the team can achieve "something special" under Andoni Iraola.
Why Mac Allister Feels Left Out
Mac Allister specifically referenced Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, his fellow Liverpool midfielders who have both signed new long-term contracts.
"I see Dominik and Ryan renewing their contracts, which makes me very happy because they deserve it, but at the same time it makes me sad that I didn't get mine," he said, according to the Guardian.
The comparison inevitably raises questions about where Mac Allister now sits in Liverpool's longer-term plans.
He arrived from Brighton for £35 million in 2023 and quickly became a central figure in Liverpool's midfield, playing a key role in their Premier League title triumph.
But Mac Allister endured a more difficult campaign last season under Arne Slot, even if his subsequent performances for Argentina at the World Cup offered a reminder of the level he can still reach.
Liverpool also have time on their side. His existing deal runs until 2028, meaning there is no immediate contractual deadline forcing the club into a decision.
They can instead give Iraola time to assess him and see whether he can consistently return to his best before deciding on another long-term commitment.
Mac Allister himself acknowledged that his performances could yet alter the situation.
He Could Have Left
What gives the situation an extra edge is that staying at Liverpool was a choice.
"There were options to leave this summer," Mac Allister said.
Real Madrid and Manchester City were among the clubs linked with him, while Iraola had already made clear during pre-season that he wanted to keep the midfielder at Anfield.
Mac Allister ultimately stayed, speaking warmly this week about Liverpool's squad, Iraola's ideas and his belief that the club can compete for trophies.
For now, however, the player and club appear to be working to different timelines.
