Liverpool Not Rushing Into Mac Allister Renewal, Will Assess His Performances First

According to reports, Liverpool are not rushing into a contract renewal with Mac Allister and the club wants to first assess his performances.

At the intense pre-match press conference before facing Atletico Madrid, Mac Allister's main focus was that he did not receive a new contract this summer. He then responded on the pitch, scoring a superb winning goal in Liverpool's 2-1 victory over the Spanish side.

The Argentina international stressed in an interview that he loves the club, and his emotional celebration as he ran toward the Kop stand said it all.

This was the 27-year-old's third consecutive start under new manager Iraola — he was only a substitute against Newcastle in the Premier League opener. This was at least partly because his extended World Cup campaign meant he returned late for pre-season preparations.

He has played as the deepest midfielder in Iraola's system, performing well in all three matches and helping the team maintain better balance. Due to his lack of pre-season preparation and the demands of the position, he has often looked tired in the second half, but in every match his displays before the 60-minute mark have been convincing.

However, this does not mean Liverpool were wrong in their stance on his contract this summer, and the club should not immediately approach Mac Allister with a new deal tomorrow.

Contract situations at Anfield are nothing new, especially in recent years. Van Dijk, Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Konate have all been involved in high-profile renewal discussions. Many expected such topics to quiet down before the situations of Van Dijk and Alisson Becker intensified, with both contracts expiring after the season, but the issue has become a focus again.

Mac Allister confirmed he had options to leave during the recent transfer window. He told reporters that it was very disappointing that the club was unable to offer him a new contract. His midfield partners Gravenberch and Szoboszlai had signed new deals in March and July respectively. All three were important figures in Liverpool's 2024-25 title-winning campaign, so it is understandable that Mac Allister felt hurt seeing the other two rewarded while he was not.

However, the context also matters. It is easy to understand why Liverpool were reluctant to offer the midfielder a new contract after last season. Mac Allister was not the only player whose form dropped, with Gravenberch and others also falling below their standards, but his decline was greater and more concerning. He was also compared with former Liverpool midfielder Fabinho, who was far from his best during the 2022-23 season.

There were many factors behind this. Like his teammates, the midfielder has been dealing with Jota's death. Mac Allister was close to fellow South Americans Nunez and Luis Diaz, who have since departed, and his pre-season was disrupted by injury. Although he often played down the impact of that injury, he never fully recovered his form or consistency. Combined with ineffective pressing from players ahead of him, which forced him to cover large areas, and the heavy workload accumulated for club and country over previous seasons, these factors clearly affected his performances.

Despite his struggles last season, former manager Slot continued to select him, showing the influence he could provide. After Iraola took charge, the midfield pair have had greater responsibilities, leading to questions over whether Mac Allister suits the role, but from this limited sample he has answered those doubts with strong performances.

After Liverpool's 2-0 win over Ipswich, Iraola said in a post-match interview: "Mac Allister is a very intelligent player. He understands positioning very well. Today he was really excellent."

This summer, Mac Allister played a key role as Argentina reached the World Cup final. He appears closer to the player Liverpool fans saw in his first two seasons after joining from Brighton in 2023. He has carried that momentum into the new season, and although he is still developing, he has already formed a good partnership with Szoboszlai.

After the victory over Atletico Madrid, Szoboszlai told reporters: "I really like playing with Mac. We know each other very well, we do not even need to speak. You look at someone and he knows what you want to do, and I know what he wants to do — I think that helps the team as well."

There are many reasons for handing out new contracts. Clubs use them to reward strong performances and usually include improved terms to reflect a player's importance. At the same time, they help protect a player's value, preventing a club from having to sell cheaply or losing the player for free.

New contracts are also about what players will do next. Clubs hope players can maintain their current level and ideally continue improving. Based on last season's performances, Liverpool could not be certain that Mac Allister would recover from a poor campaign and return to his usual level.

Long-term planning must also be considered. Gravenberch will be 29 when his new contract ends. Szoboszlai will be 31 at that point. Mac Allister will also be 29 when his current deal expires. This is not exactly the same as giving the 31-year-old Henderson a four-year extension in 2021, but the last thing Liverpool want is to hand a new contract to a player whose form is declining.

For Mac Allister and Liverpool, the only positive sign is that he looks more like himself at the start of this season. By making no move this summer, Liverpool have effectively presented him with a challenge: prove that he deserves a new contract.

From the club's perspective, this stance is correct. Three good performances, plus a Champions League group-stage winner, are not enough to change that assessment — especially considering Mac Allister also scored a winner against Real Madrid in the league phase last season. However, if this refreshed and energetic midfielder continues producing performances like these, Liverpool will have to reconsider.

Mac Allister said: "Maybe they will change their mind about the new contract. I think it depends on my performances over these years. I will not change. This is a very successful period of my life. I do not think I have to prove anything, but of course I need to show the level I can play at."