Alexis Mac Allister grabbed the headlines again as he scored Liverpool's winner against Atletico Madrid, just a day after airing his frustrations after being denied a new contract at Anfield
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 9: Alisson Becker celebrates with Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool at full time following the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between Liverpool FC and Atletico de Madrid at Anfield on September 9, 2026 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Alexis Mac Allister scored Liverpool's winner against Atletico Madrid(Image: Getty Images)
Andoni Iraola praised Alexis Mac Allister’s impact in Liverpool’s win over Atletico Madrid, just a day after the midfielder revealed his frustrations at not being offered a new contract.
Mac Allister scored the winner as the Reds opened their Champions League account with a 2-1 win at Anfield, and in the process handed Iraola his first win as a head coach in the competition.
Liverpool had to fight back after falling behind to yet another Marcos Llorente goal - the fifth time the Atletico midfielder has scored against the Reds - with Dominik Szoboszlai responding just before half-time before Mac Allister’s superb strike sealed the victory.
The Argentine grabbed the headlines in the build-up to the game, having admitted to feeling “sad” after being told during the summer that the club was not in a position to offer him a new contract, and revealing he had options to leave Anfield.
Mac Allister has certainly done his chances of earning a new deal no harm this season, having impressed after returning from the World Cup, and Iraola was full of praise after his latest message.
“Yes, lovely goal for him and from Dominik [Szoboszlai],” Iraola told TNT Sports. “They ran a lot. Alexis has been very smart - I think it was a very cheap first yellow. They were putting pressure to find the second one. He is a smart player and he could survive that."
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))
Others have not been as impressed with Mac Allister’s comments though, with former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson among those left surprised by the midfielder making his contract frustrations public.
“It was all about Mac Allister coming into the game with what he said in the press conference,” Robinson told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“He has still got two years left on his contract which I found quite strange. It's not the kind of thing you do, openly ask for a new contract.
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“You let your football do the talking, you go out there and play better than you did last season because the level he played at tonight, he didn't reach last season. I thought he was poor at times last season and hadn't earned a new contract.
“He had a good engine tonight and took his goal really well. It was always going to be about him but it's now all positive. That is how you go about getting a new contract.”
And Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard echoed Robinson’s comments, telling TNT Sports: “I thought his performance tonight was outstanding. Let your football do the talking.
“Consistency, top performance, show your experience. Show you're a top international. This club will reward you.”