No big deal: how Mac Allister shook off contract doubts to fire Liverpool’s revival - fb体育

Iraola’s midfield has rediscovered its aggression and intensity just in time for Sunday’s visit of Arsenal to Anfield

Alexis Mac Allister found himself in a strong position to apply pressure on Liverpool over a new contract before Atlético Madrid’s visit to Anfield last month, although only in the physical sense of being up on stage to preview the game in front of a mass audience. In reality, the 27-year-old’s negotiating stance was relatively weak. And in fairness to the Argentina international, he has been true to his word in flipping the narrative in his favour ever since.

As the past two Premier League champions prepare to meet at Anfield on Sunday, when Liverpool can narrow the gap on Arsenal to three points with a fourth successive home win in all competitions, Mac Allister’s form encapsulates the impressive improvement of Andoni Iraola’s team. He has become the indispensable part of Liverpool’s central midfield and to an extent that, merely seven weeks on from that headline-grabbing Champions League press conference, it is not only Mac Allister who thinks he deserves a contract extension.

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