Alexis Mac Allister’s frustration with Liverpool is obvious, and it’s easy to see why.
Alexis Mac Allister has been one of Liverpool’s most closely scrutinised players this season after a noticeable dip in form.
Since joining the club in 2023, the Argentine had been outstanding on a consistent basis right through to the end of the 2024/25 campaign, a run of performances that even earned him a PFA Player of the Year nomination. However, an injury picked up late last season appears to have had a bigger impact than initially thought, with Mac Allister failing to hit his usual levels during the 2025/26 campaign.
Supporters have spent months trying to understand what has gone wrong for Liverpool’s No.10, with many questioning whether the injury has taken something away from his game. What has often been overlooked, though, is the emotional impact of last summer’s departures of Darwin Núñez and Luis Díaz — two of Mac Allister’s closest friends within the squad.
That factor came into sharper focus on Saturday when the midfielder made some pointed comments that hinted at underlying frustration. Speaking to Sky Sports, Mac Allister said:
“Many things changed as I said, new players came in to replace those who left, we changed too many things, but I prefer to keep it to myself.”
Despite claiming he wanted to stay quiet, the openness of his remarks surprised many Liverpool fans and underlined how much the changes have affected him. While the exits of Núñez and Díaz were not entirely the club’s decision — with both players keen to move on — the tone of Mac Allister’s comments suggests he is not completely comfortable with how things unfolded.
It is easy to understand why the Argentina international might feel unsettled without the South American teammates who helped him settle at Anfield two-and-a-half years ago. With speculation already linking him to a potential future move to Real Madrid, his public expressions of dissatisfaction do little to ease concerns about his long-term future on Merseyside.
Adding to the intrigue, reports in Spain emerged at the same time suggesting Liverpool could consider a sensational move for Lionel Messi. While such a deal appears extremely unlikely, the arrival of Mac Allister’s idol and international teammate would undoubtedly lift his spirits.
Realistically, though, Liverpool must find other ways to restore Mac Allister’s happiness and form. Given everything that has happened since July, it is no shock that he misses his former teammates — and he is unlikely to be alone in that feeling within the dressing room. Still, football offers little room for sentiment. Excuses are running out, and the onus is now on Mac Allister to rediscover the level that once made him one of Liverpool’s standout performers.