Liverpool supporters had plenty of players to blame for their dismal 2025/26 season, as virtually the whole of the Reds’ squad underperformed.
But while the likes of Cody Gakpo and Ibrahima Konate became easy scapegoats for frustrated fans, they were also fairly universal in their belief that it was Alexis Mac Allister who had suffered the biggest drop in form.
One of Liverpool‘s best players during the title-winning season in 2024/25, Mac Allister looked unrecognisable just months later. Usually so clever in possession and a workhorse out of it, the Argentine was sloppy with the ball and continuously bypassed without it.
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Heading into the summer, there have been plenty of concrete claims that Mac Allister could be sold, with many Liverpool fans already writing the 27-year-old off.
But though there will still be a suspicion that he is in the midst of an irreversible decline, Mac Allister has surprisingly turned up and shown plenty of his old self at this summer’s World Cup. Having helped Argentina into another semi-final with an excellent headed goal against Switzerland on Sunday morning, Liverpool have their answer over what to do with their No. 10: he must be given time to turn it around.
Liverpool must give Mac Allister another chance
There have been times during the World Cup where Mac Allister has looked a little leggy and much more like the player Liverpool fans had been watching all season.
But, by and large, the former Brighton midfielder has delivered for his country, and though fans are right to question why exactly he has not replicated that form for Liverpool, it does show that supporters’ conclusion that his ‘legs have gone’, probably isn’t true.
One year ago Mac Allister was seen as one of the best midfielders in the world. Not 28 until December, he should still be in that category. His age is not against him, and he clearly still has the quality of 23/24 and 24/25 within him.
As a result, Liverpool would be foolish to let him go this summer. They saw what happened with Luis Diaz when they believed they could get no more out of him and sold him to Bayern Munich last year. If Mac Allister leaves it will be for a club of similar standing, and he will likely shine. Liverpool do not need to let that happen.
Next season will determine how long Mac Allister stays at Anfield
Although his World Cup performances have highlighted that last season may simply have been a blip for Mac Allister, there is, of course, a chance that it was not.
If he starts next term in the same vein as he played the last one, clearly Liverpool cannot continue with him in the midfield.
But, if he shows his old self again, then the Reds should perhaps even look to extend his contract, which runs until 2028.
If not, then it makes sense to sell him next summer, when he should still retain at least the value Liverpool paid for him with one year left on his deal.
What has become clear is that Mac Allister can still be the midfielder Liverpool have been crying out for, and while it is a gamble, he deserves the chance to put his form right with the Reds.
At the beginning of the World Cup, the majority of fans would likely have happily seen Mac Allister leave after three years with Liverpool. One month on, and, surprise as it may be, they should be now reversing those opinions.
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