Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has opened up about his disappointment after learning the club will not be offering him a fresh deal this summer. The 27‑year‑old, who still has two years left on the contract he signed when he arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2023, said he feels "very sad" about the situation and admitted that he had "options to leave" during the transfer window. He made the comments during a pre‑match press conference ahead of Liverpool's Champions League tie with Atletico Madrid, noting that his teammates Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have already secured long‑term extensions. "There was a chance I could have left the club in the summer," Mac Allister said, before adding, "As everyone knows, I received the news that the club was not in a position to offer me a new contract, which makes me very, very sad." The Argentine international emphasized his commitment to the Reds, insisting that he gives his all in every training session and match.
"Everyone can see I give my 100 per cent for this football club, every single day in training and games. Of course I can have very good games, very bad games like everyone. I always give my best," he explained. While he celebrated the contract renewals of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch, he confessed that their extensions also made his own situation feel more painful.
"And 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 that I didn't get mine." Mac Allister tried to reassure supporters, promising to keep performing at his highest level until the final day of his current deal. "The fans don't need to worry because I will give my 100 per cent until the last day I'm here," he said. When asked whether negotiations for a new contract were ongoing, he replied, "Maybe. I don't know.
It's going to depend on how I perform during this year. They are right to make the decision as well, but hopefully they change their minds." He clarified that he had not received a direct explanation from the club; the news was conveyed to his agent instead. "I don't want to say things they never said, but what I got from my agent was that they were not in a position to renew me. It's really sad because we won a Premier League together, we've been through difficult times together, and I always give my best.
We will see what happens, but of course it makes me a little bit sad," he added. Speculation linked Mac Allister with a possible move to Manchester City over the summer, yet he insisted that staying at Liverpool feels right. "Because this is the right club.
I love being here, and this is something special. I love this club, I love being here, I love the fans.
As a player, you can be at a club for a long, long time and you don't really realise where you are - that doesn't happen to me. I know very well that this is an amazing club, that this city has something very special and I love being here," he said. On the pitch, Mac Allister has featured in Liverpool's most recent league fixtures, helping the side draw with Nottingham Forest at Anfield and then secure a win at Ipswich Town, which gave new manager Andoni Iraola an unbeaten start. When asked about his relationship with the Spaniard, Mac Allister praised Iraola's vision and coaching style.
"Since I've come to pre‑season and I worked under Andoni, I could see something special. He's a really good coach.
He knows very well what he wants to do, and we are trying to get there. I haven't had any conversations with him about it.
When I see the way he wants us to play and train, I think this can be a successful season so that's why I think this is the right club and the right moment to be here," he explained. Iraola echoed the midfielder's sentiment, describing him as an "important" player and insisting there is still ample time to resolve the contract issue. "We all have personal situations with different contracts.
The important thing is he wants to be here and continue here. We haven't been together a long time but he has been an important player and I rate him very highly. Definitely there is still a lot of time to talk about those contract situations," the manager told reporters.
He added, "I am very happy with his performances – he played really well on Friday [at Ipswich] and I hope I can help him to still improve. He is a very experienced player who has already achieved massive things, but I hope I can help him in his development as a player and then everything goes well then those problems will definitely be solved." Mac Allister reflected on his achievements at Liverpool, noting his role in the club's 2024/25 Premier League triumph and the previous season's Carabao Cup victory. When asked if he feels any pressure to prove himself amid the contract uncertainty, the World Cup winner shrugged it off.
"Not really because I'm always the same guy and player, and I'm not going to change. I think in these three years at the club I've done very good things.
We went through difficult times; we went through a lot of things. We won a Premier League, we won a Carabao Cup, so for me it's a very successful period of my life. I don't think I have to prove something, but of course I have to show the level that I can perform, and hopefully that's the case," he said.
Statistical analysis from data provider Gradient indicates that Mac Allister's overall quality ratings have slipped since his arrival, with a noticeable decline in defensive metrics compared to his peers in Europe's top leagues. Opta data also shows a reduction in his per‑90‑minute output, suggesting a dip in both quantity and effectiveness of his contributions.
Commentary from Sky Sports' Vinny O'Connor highlighted the oddity of Mac Allister being the sole member of Liverpool's title‑winning midfield trio left without a new deal, while Gravenberch and Szoboszlai have secured contracts running into the early 2030s. O'Connor noted the irony of Mac Allister speaking before facing Atletico Madrid, a club reportedly linked with him, and the lingering interest from Manchester City. The broader question remains whether this contract impasse signals the beginning of the end for Mac Allister at Anfield or if a resolution can be reached before his current deal expires.
As of now, both player and manager maintain a cautiously optimistic outlook, leaving Liverpool fans to wait and see how the situation unfolds over the coming months.