NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 22, 2026: Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alexis Mac Allister has dismissed suggestions his form suffered due to a lingering injury last season, but admitted he was “playing with pain basically.”
Mac Allister endured his worst season as a Liverpool player last time out, which coincided with a dreadful overall campaign under Arne Slot.
But the 27-year-old already appears revitalised with Andoni Iraola in the dugout and is hoping he can convince the club’s decision-makers to offer him a new contract.
One of the main concerns around Mac Allister’s form in 2025/26 was that he ended the previous campaign early due to injury and needed to be managed in the opening weeks of the season.
However, when asked whether it had affected his performances, he said: “Not really, no.
“That injury – it wasn’t really an injury, but I was playing with pain basically – started in the middle of the season that we won the Premier League.
“So it was not something I couldn’t play with, of course it was painful and uncomfortable to play with, but that’s what every player at this level goes through.
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's (L-R) Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister waiting to restart the match after conceeding the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Saturday, January 24, 2026: Liverpool's (L-R) Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister waiting to restart the match after conceeding the first goal during the FA Premier League match between Bournemouth AFC and Liverpool FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
“There are so many games and you always want to be involved and always want to be there.
“But no, I don’t think that was part of the ‘why’.
“At the same time, of course I take responsibility, because it wasn’t a good season for me individually and for us as a team.
“So it’s not that I don’t want to take that responsibility, but I don’t think that was the case.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 8, 2026: Liverpool's Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during a press conference at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atlético Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Tuesday, September 8, 2026: Liverpool's Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister during a press conference at Anfield ahead of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atlético Madrid. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Mac Allister made headlines with his comments on his contract situation, saying he was “very sad” to see Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch sign new deals while the club informed him he would not be offered one as it stands.
But speaking later in Liverpool’s pre-Atletico Madrid press conference, Iraola made clear how important he views his No. 10.
“In this case for me the important thing is that he wants to be here, he wants to continue here,” the head coach told reporters.
“On the footballing side, we haven’t been together a lot of time, but you more or less can perceive that I rate him very highly.
“He has been very important and played a lot of minutes, and definitely there is still a lot of time to talk about those contract situations.”
Araujo Gravenberch
Araujo Gravenberch
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Iraola Barcola
Iraola Barcola