REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool bounced back from successive disappointing defeats to jump back into the Champions League positions as they beat lowly Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Liverpool had been beaten by Arsenal and Fenerbahce in the lead up to the clash against the Eagles, but Andoni Iraola would have sensed an opportunity against a team with no confidence who are now bottom of the Premier League table.
It appears as though it will be Pierre Sage's final game in charge, with GMS sources revealing that the Frenchman is set to be sacked, but Iraola will be delighted that his side are going into the two-week international break on a high.
The Reds have spent more than £100m each on the likes of Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Bradley Barcola in the last 18 months, while handing lucrative new long-term contracts to Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield.
Wirtz and Isak were both on the score-sheet in South London, but another Liverpool star has shown them up with his performances this term.
Alexis Mac Allister is approaching the final 18 months of his £150,000-a-week contract at Anfield, but he has been one of their most consistent players during the 2026-27 campaign to date.
Key Events Timeline
June 2023 — Liverpool signed Mac Allister from Brighton for an initial £35m release-clause fee.
February 2024 — Started Liverpool's extra-time Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley.
April 2025 — Scored as Liverpool thrashed Tottenham to clinch the Premier League title.
July 2026 — Played all 130 minutes of Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain.
October 2026 — Reports emerged Liverpool would not offer fresh terms beyond his 2028 deal.
The Argentina international expressed his sadness at being told by the club in the summer he wouldn't be offered a new deal, despite the extensions received by his midfield teammates.
Rather than dwelling on that and letting his levels slip, he continues to be one of the club's most important players, like against Palace when he scored the club's opening goal.
His performance didn't go unnoticed by BBC pundit Troy Deeney, who named the 27-year-old in his Premier League Team of the Week.
The former Watford striker cannot believe that Mac Allister hasn't been offered a new contract, saying:
'When he is fit and available and firing on all cylinders, it feels like they have a chance in this title race.'
FSG Need to Make U-Turn on Mac Allister
Action Images via Reuters/Jason Cairnduff
GIVEMESPORT sources recently revealed that Liverpool's stance on offering Mac Allister a new deal hasn't changed, but it needs to.
Not only is he a reliable and consistent midfield performer for the Merseyside outfit, but he is also providing important goals for Iraola's team this season, such as on Sunday.
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Mac Allister's attacking record this season
Appearances
Starts
Goals
Assists
Mac Allister is proving to be an important role model for 19-year-old Trey Nyoni, who is also in line for a new deal at Anfield.
The duo are building a strong partnership and all of a sudden, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai are beginning to fall down the pecking order as a result.
The latter is struggling to make a positive impact in central midfield right now, and there is a general feeling that he would actually be better off at right-back, where he has filled in on a number of occasions.
At a time when the Reds are working on an extension for Nyoni, and also face decisions over the futures of Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, they should make new terms for Mac Allister a priority to avoid losing him in 2027.
Liverpool's Bradley Barcola looks on before Atletico Madrid
Liverpool's Bradley Barcola looks on before Atletico Madrid
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