In a season littered with contrast to that of the previous, Alexis Mac Allister’s perhaps epitomised the wider struggles of Liverpool better than any other.
Taken away from the spotlight after sealing the title at home to Tottenham in April 2025, the Argentine had, to that point, been one of the central figures to the Reds’ glorious 2024/25 campaign.
Since then, it has become a head-scratching story. Liverpool plummeted to unexpected depths with 20 defeats across all competitions, and the man who had been so integral to the good times looked a shadow of the version of himself 12 months prior.
Started44
As Sub11
Unused0
Goals5
Assists7
Total Apps55
A puzzling chapter
Embarking on his third season at Anfield, Mac Allister had already carved out a role as one of the senior heads in the squad – as deserving as anyone carrying the golden Premier League logo on his sleeve.
Like Liverpool, his season did get off to a promising start, assisting the first goal of the curtain-raiser against Bournemouth and putting us on a path to seven straight victories – albeit six of which came late.
The exact point at which the struggles commenced is tricky to pinpoint, but the fact that his first full 90 minutes didn’t come until his next assist in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa in November suggests concerns over his fitness six months earlier still hadn’t been resolved.
3D36DF9 Liverpool, UK. 4th Nov, 2025. Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool celebrates scoring their first goal during the Liverpool vs Real Madrid UEFA Champions League match at Anfield, Liverpool. Picture credit should read: James Baylis/Sportimage Credit: Sportimage Ltd/Alamy Live News
He did get on the scoresheet three days later with the match-winner in a thoroughly enjoyable Anfield victory over Real Madrid, but it quickly became a case of hero-to-zero for him and many others thereafter.
Involved in all of the now-infamous three successive defeats by three goals in late November, Mac Allister was quickly becoming far too easy to bypass defensively and showing less and less of his redeeming qualities in the other direction.
While there were always brief glimpses of quality – as one would expect from a midfielder with World Cup and Premier League medals in his pocket – it had become apparent that concerns over his legs were now long-term ones.
Wider issues to ponder
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 11, 2026: Liverpool's number ten Alexis Mac Allister during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Fulham FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Despite the struggles, Arne Slot persisted with his No. 10 in the middle throughout the vast majority of 2025/26’s meaningful bits.
Only five players completed more Premier League minutes than Mac Allister across the campaign – exposing the combination of a worrying lack of alternatives and perhaps unjustified levels of loyalty from the manager.
He was reported last month to have felt “unfairly singled out” for criticism of his performances during a season in which his dynamism has demonstrably dropped.
We may later come to learn reasons for the physical side of his sharp 12-month decline, but the lack of accountability for failure across the board sets a worrying precedent in a team previously heralded for exemplary attitude and spirit.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 27, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister (L) and Jeremie Frimpong during a training session at the AXA Training Centre ahead of the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and Qaraba? FK. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Should he extend his stay into a fourth year, he will be hoping his new boss is able to inject new life into the potential that, at one point, looked limitless.
His ability to navigate the body through the physical demands of long seasons has always been a question mark, as illustrated by drop-offs late in games even during his first campaign.
It is in everybody’s interests to turn this around, but finding the root cause of the issue will be key to making that happen in the first instance.
What next?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister applauds the supporters after the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended 1-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Put simply, Liverpool can’t just sell every player deemed responsible for the downfall of 2025/26 – though many of us would have liked to see them try at various points!
That said, the version of Mac Allister we have watched in more recent times looks far enough removed from what Liverpool will need after the summer to raise genuine questions over his future.
The Reds have enough to do in the market without the inevitable outgoings, and they cannot afford to go into 2026/27 as light on trusted options as they did a year ago.
Whether the new era and a slight dip in responsibility could revitalise things remains to be seen and there was enough evidence from the previous iteration to suggest that it is entirely possible.
But next season will come with enough risks and if the club make life harder for themselves than necessary, it could become a long road back to the top.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister ties his boot lace before the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Brentford FC at Anfield. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Mac Allister is by no means necessarily finished as an elite-level midfielder and it brings zero pleasure to disparage any Liverpool player, but there are several things that will need to fall into place if he is to get back to where he needs to be.
Andoni Iraola may provide a fresh start, but whether Mac Allister can keep up with his demands is a serious doubt.
Best moment: The aforementioned winner against Real Madrid, when we briefly, naively thought our problems were magically solved!
Worst moment: The same game as many others, one would suspect – the drab 4-1 defeat at home to PSV.
Role next season: Should he stay, he may find himself in competition with a new arrival. Who knows? Sharing the load may do him no harm.