Alexis Mac Allister scored a second-half winner as Liverpool began their Champions League campaign with a win over Atletico Madrid at Anfield
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard
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Steven Gerrard has told Alexis Mac Allister that his comments about his Liverpool future weren’t helpful and believes the final call on a new contract will be made by Andoni Iraola. Speaking on the eve of his side’s Champions League game against Atletico Madrid, Mac Allister said he had been left 'very, very sad' after being informed by Liverpool that they would not offer him a new contract and claimed he had options to leave in the summer.
Mac Allister also said his agent was told the club was 'not in a position' to offer him a new deal, even though fellow midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have been given new contracts over the past year. But when asked about the comments made by the Argentine, Gerrard not only told Mac Allister he was wrong to make them when he did, but he believes Iraola will have final say on if a new deal is offered.
“I am a big fan of Alexis Mac Allister and I think he's been very good for Liverpool and I think last year he had a few injury problems and I think going into the World Cup you sort of expected his focus to be elsewhere at certain times which it was,” he said on TNT Sports.
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“But he is a really clever player and he has done really well for Liverpool and I think this will be the manager’s decision at the end of the day.
“I think the manager has probably said to the guys around him, let me have a look at him, let me see how he plays and can he get back to his first season here where he was terrific.
“If he can get that form consistently now throughout the season then I think Liverpool will offer him a new contract and I actually think Liverpool need him.
“I think they need another one as well. I think they are light and the last thing Liverpool need is to lose a player like Alexis Mac Allister, with his experience and quality.
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid
Alexis Mac Allister celebrates after scoring for Liverpool against Atletico Madrid(Image: (Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images))
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“But the timing last night, for me, I don’t think it was helpful. I think it's one where he needs to knock on the manager’s door and talk privately.”
Before the Kop icon added: “What I would say is that the media are mischievous. They know what they are after and caught him a little bit off guard.
“We know what you are like Laura (Woods). And sometimes you get put on the spot and to be fair to him he is really honest, and I really loved his honesty,
“I love his honesty, but the night before a big game, I think all the talk should be on the football rather than contracts.”
Should Alexis Mac Allister be given a new Liverpool contract?
Alexis Mac Allister (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Mac Allister would go on to score his side’s winning goal against Diego Simeone’s team, but speaking a day before the game, he said: “As everyone knows 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
“There wasn’t any direct conversation with me, it was with my agent and I don’t want to say things that they never said but what I got from my agent was that they were not in the position to renew me.
“It’s really sad because we won the Premier League together, we went through difficult times together and I always give my best. I think I give 100 per cent 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 I didn’t get mine. Of course, there is still time. The fans don’t need to worry because I will give 100 per cent until the last day I am here. We will see what happens.”
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