Mac Allister ‘Very Sad’ as Liverpool Hold Off on New Contract

Alexis Mac Allister says he's "very sad" that Liverpool haven't offered him a new contract, and he's revealed there were other clubs ready to take him this summer if he wanted to go.

The Argentine midfielder spoke openly about his situation ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. It comes after teammates Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch both signed contract extensions this year, while Mac Allister, who joined from Brighton in 2023 on a five-year deal, has been left waiting.

"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," the 27-year-old said. "Everyone can see that I give my 100% for this football club every single day in training and games. Of course, I can have very good games [and] bad games, like everyone, but I always give my best."

[ Mac Allister Backs Liverpool to Go All the Way in Champions League This Season ]

He didn't hide his mixed emotions about watching teammates get rewarded while he waits. "I see Dominik and Ryan renewing their contracts and that makes me very happy because they deserve it. At the same time it makes me a little bit sad that I didn't get mine. Of course, there is still time. The fans don't need to worry because I will give my 100% until the last day I am here."

Mac Allister, who has been linked with a possible move to Manchester City, said he hasn't spoken directly with the club about why his contract wasn't extended.

"We won a Premier League together, we went through difficult times together and I always give my best so we will see what happens," he said, reflecting on his time at Anfield. "I don't think I have to prove something, but I have to show the level I can perform and, hopefully, that's the case. I love this club. I love the fans. I know very well this is an amazing club and this city has something very special. I love being here."

He also confirmed he had chances to leave in the last transfer window. "There were options to leave this summer. I think right now I'm in the right club and I have the right mindset to give 100% for this club."

Mac Allister was a key figure in Liverpool's Premier League title win in 2024-25, but admitted last season didn't go as well, either for him personally or for the team, as the Reds slipped to fifth place and parted ways with manager Arne Slot. Even so, his appearances actually went up, from 49 games in 2024-25 to 55 last season.

New head coach Andoni Iraola, who took over from Slot this summer, used Mac Allister off the bench in the opening league game against Newcastle before starting him in the last two matches. Asked about the contract situation, Iraola kept things diplomatic.

"We all have personal situations with different contracts," Iraola said. "The important thing is he wants to be here. We haven't been together a long time but he has been an important player and I rate him very highly. There is still a lot of time to talk about those contract situations."

Mac Allister also spoke positively about working under the new coach. "Since I came to pre-season and worked under Andoni, I could see something special. He is a really good coach, he knows very well what he wants to do and we are trying to get there. I've not had any conversations with him about [the contract]. But when I see the way he wants us to play and the way we train, I think this can be a successful year."

Analysis: A Surprisingly Candid Admission So Early in the Season

It's rare to hear a Liverpool player speak this openly about a contract situation so early into a campaign, and Mac Allister's comments certainly caught people off guard.

He still has nearly two years left on his current deal, but it clearly hasn't escaped his notice that both Szoboszlai and Gravenberch have already been tied down to new long-term contracts. Whether this was a deliberate move to gauge how fans would react or simply an honest reflection of where things stand, Mac Allister will know that returning to his best form, the level he showed during the title-winning 2024-25 season when he scored five goals and set up five more, will do more for his case than any public comment.

Sources close to the situation suggest Richard Hughes, Liverpool's now-former sporting director, was involved in talks with Mac Allister's representatives, and that the club's hierarchy chose not to offer fresh terms following a disappointing season by his standards.

With a new sporting director expected to arrive soon, and Mac Allister determined to prove his value even if he insists he has nothing left to prove, there's still a real chance his story at Anfield isn't finished yet.

For now, all eyes will be on how this latest contract situation develops, just the newest chapter in what has become a familiar pattern for Liverpool in recent years.