Carragher stands firm on Mac Allister despite Liverpool winner against Atletico Madrid

Alexis Mac Allister silenced doubters with a match-winning goal as Liverpool overturned a deficit to beat Atletico Madrid at Anfield, yet Jamie Carragher refused to let the performance excuse what he called an ill-judged public airing of contract grievances.

The Argentine midfielder had told reporters ahead of the Champions League clash that he was saddened Liverpool had not yet approached him about extending his deal, admitting it stung to watch fellow midfielders Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai sign new contracts while his own situation remained unresolved. Mac Allister also revealed he had received offers to leave the club in the summer but chose to stay.

Carragher, speaking on CBS Sports, acknowledged the timing of the goal but held his position. “Mac Allister, who talked the talk yesterday — today he walked the walk,” the pundit said. “Still doesn’t make what he did yesterday right in the press conference, but he’ll be looked on more favourably after getting the winning goal.”

The former Liverpool defender has taken a consistent stance on players who use the media to apply contract pressure. He expressed similar disapproval when Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah went public with their own situations — Salah subsequently left the club, while Van Dijk stayed and is now in the final year of his deal.

Mac Allister, who was a key figure in Liverpool’s 2025 Premier League title win, was careful to reassure supporters that his commitment to the club is not in question. “Everybody can see I give my 100% for this football club every single day in training, games,” he said. “The fans don’t need to worry because I will give my 100 per cent until the last day I am here. We will see what happens.”

His words and his goal may have steadied the mood around Anfield for now, but the contract question remains open — and Carragher’s verdict on how he raised it has not changed.