Mac Allister Answers Contract Doubts on the Pitch as Liverpool Host Arsenal

Alexis Mac Allister has scored the winning goal against Atlético Madrid while his own future at Liverpool is still unsettled. The Argentina midfielder has two years left on his contract, and the club have not made an extension a priority.

Mac Allister, 27, joined from Brighton in June 2023 for £35m. That fee was set by a release clause, a fixed price written into his Brighton contract that let Liverpool buy him without haggling. He has since become one of the team's most important players.

The contract talk has been harder to shrug off. Mac Allister said he was sad that no new offer had come. He was just as clear about his response. The Guardian quoted him saying, "The fans don't need to worry as I will give my 100% and maybe they change their minds."

Teammates have moved on from the same uncertainty. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch have both been given new Liverpool contracts, and Mac Allister spoke about their deals with what he described as envy and happiness. Manager Andoni Iraola said Mac Allister wants to stay, work hard and be at his best. He called him a top player.

Last season was a difficult one for him. He had a painful groin injury, but he did not use it as an excuse. He said he takes responsibility for a poor season, both for himself and for the team. Liverpool had won their 20th league title under Arne Slot, and Mac Allister was a major part of that triumph. Slot went on to a second and final season in charge.

This season, the numbers suggest a stronger performance. Opta, a company that records detailed football data, shows him averaging 2.3 tackles per Premier League game this season, up from 1.8 last season. A tackle is a legal challenge to win the ball from an opponent. He is also winning 4.8 duels per game, compared with 3.8 last year. Duels are contests for the ball between two players.

Mac Allister is no stranger to big occasions. He won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, and he was in the squad when Argentina reached a second successive World Cup final. Liverpool's current contract with him runs to 2028.

Sunday brings another test. Liverpool host Arsenal at Anfield, and a win would give them a fourth successive home victory in all competitions. It would also cut the gap on Arsenal in the Premier League table to three points. Liverpool have the chance to put their own question marks to bed in front of their own supporters.