Prior to the World Cup beginning – and throughout plenty of the tournament so far – many Liverpool fans would have been happy to see Alexis Mac Allister sold this summer.
The Argentine had an absolutely woeful season for the Reds, arguably allowing his standards to fall the furthest of any player in the Liverpool squad.
Physicality appeared to be a big part of his struggles, and there were question marks over whether Mac Allister was completely fit. Despite being just 27, the former Brighton man looked like he could barely get around the pitch anymore, leaving Liverpool completely exposed in midfield, game after game.
What has been holding Alexis Mac Allister back at Liverpool recently?
Maybe Andoni Iraola can get more out of him 🤔
On the back of such a poor season, Mac Allister had been expected to deliver more of the same at the World Cup, before potentially leaving Anfield later in the transfer window.
However, what has happened has been completely the opposite. Mac Allister has grown into the tournament, and he was genuinely fantastic during Argentina’s semi-final win over England on Wednesday. Though that is good news for Liverpool fans hoping to see his revival next season, it is incredibly frustrating to see that Mac Allister has had this in him the whole time, and raises doubts over his commitment to the Reds.
Was Mac Allister saving himself for the World Cup?
Like the rest of the somewhat insufferable Argentina squad, Mac Allister is injected with a passion and fight that Liverpool fans may find unrecognisable while he’s playing for his country.
Far too often last season Mac Allister was a passenger. Between his mini-holidays before crucial matches and his out-of-touch social media posts, you could be forgiven for thinking the No. 10 simply did not care.
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While that is unlikely to be true, the optics are certainly not great for Mac Allister. You can’t go from a weak, timid and flimsy poodle to a teeth-baring, pumped up rottweiler and expect there not to be questions asked about why that is.
One theory is that Mac Allister was not completely fit last season and, instead of giving it everything for the club who pay his wages, he’d rather play at 50 per cent and make sure he was ready for the World Cup.
If that was indeed his plan, then Mac Allister looks to have executed it perfectly. He looks back to his old self once again, all ready for the big showpiece on Sunday. It came at the expense of a dismal campaign with Liverpool, but he has shown little to suggest he’s about to take accountability for that.
Reds fans will want to see him do well in New Jersey, but there should be a lingering frustration that we may not see this version of Mac Allister at Anfield again.
Liverpool could still sell Mac Allister
On the evidence of this World Cup – and especially Wednesday’s display against England – Liverpool would be crazy to sell Mac Allister.
Nevertheless, the tournament will have increased his value, and if the Reds get a good offer, perhaps they will still consider moving him on.
Which ONE player from the 2026 World Cup would you love to see Liverpool sign? ➡️✅
Certainly, if last season’s version turns up when the Premier League season gets back underway, Liverpool – and the fanbase – have reason to feel cheated.
For now, it is difficult to say what the true version of Mac Allister is, and perhaps Liverpool cannot risk having last season’s iteration turn up again in 2026/27. If that is the feeling held by Richard Hughes and Andoni Iraola, it would not be a surprise to see him leave.
Having excelled during his first two years with the Reds, it should not have been this way.
Had Mac Allister turned up for his club in the same way he has delivered for his country over the past five weeks, it would not have been. If Liverpool lose a perfectly good midfielder because that did not happen, it will rankle for years and years to come.
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