Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is sad that there is no attempt yet to discuss the extension of his contract which expires in 2028, even as the player was named among the players that will begin Liverpool fight for the Champions League on Wednesday.

Speaking at the media chat preparatory to the Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid, the Argentinian player said he was sure the season will go well with his team.

“I am very confident about this season.

“We have a lot of quality, we have a very good coach that brought his ideas.

“I think we improved a lot since the beginning of the season, we have the desire to win trophies. We have experience, we have trophies, we have everything to be successful, but we need to be all together.

“You can have the best players, best ideas, but if we are not on the same page, it’s impossible to achieve things.

The player is however not happy about his contract situation.

“I received the news that the club was not in a position to renew my contract, which of course makes me very sad.

“I think everyone can see I give my 100% for this club, every single day in training, I have good games, bad games. I always give my best.

“I see Dominik and Rayan renewing their contracts, which makes me happy. Same time it makes me sad I didn’t get mine.

“There is still time, I will give my 100% until my last day. We will see what happens.

“There was options to leave this summer. Right now I’m in the right club.”

He said he does not have to prove anything to Liverpool but needs to show he is capable of staying at the level required to play at the club.

Mac Allister added that he “loves” Liverpool – the club and city – and loves playing at Anfield.

He also said that he had not yet spoken to new manager Andoni Iraola about his contract situation.

Speaking on whether the club told him why they would not renew his contract at this time:

“Not really, I did not have any direct conversations. They were with my agent.

“I don’t want to say things they never said, but they said they were not in the position to renew me.”

On how close he came to leaving Liverpool in the summer:

“There was a chance, like everybody knows.

The midfielder spoke at length about the challenge Atletico Madrid will pose Liverpool, and how the side has been influenced by its Argentine manager, Diego Simeone, and players from his homeland.

He also discussed the injury problems that plagued him last season, which started during the previous campaign, when Liverpool won the Premier League under Arne Slot.

“It’s going to be a really difficult game, like it was last season.

“It’s not only Giuliano, Diego, there is a lot of Argentinian players, so I’m happy that we can face each other.

On the start of the season and his lack of pre-season following the World Cup:

“I think every player is going through the same thing. It’s good. I love playing football, I love being here.

“The start of the season, we look at the result and they are not the best, at Liverpool you have to win every game.

“I still see improvement, positive things that we have to keep doing and tomorrow is an important game.”

He added that he will see what happens in the future after giving more details about the discussions his agent had with Liverpool over the summer.

He reiterated that he feels sad about the way those contract discussions turned out.

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said that he had not spoken with Alexis Mac Allister about his contract, backing up what the player said in his news conference.

But said he hopes he can help Mac Allister develop as a player and, “if all goes well, everything will be resolved”.

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said the main thing was that the player wanted to stay at the club and fight for his place.

He added that there was still plenty of time to discuss a contract extension before his deal runs out in 2028.