Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has made it clear that he wants to keep both Alexis Mac Allister and Alisson Becker at the club. Both players have been linked with moves away, with Liverpool having already said goodbye to two senior players in Mo Salah and Andy Robertson, compounding a summer of change at Anfield.
Iraola's Stance on Mac Allister and Alisson
Iraola was appointed to replace Arne Slot and inherits a squad who this time last year had just lifted the Premier League title. But both Mac Allister and Alisson had indifferent seasons, with the latter suffering frequent injuries.
Alisson, 33, was heavily linked with a move to Juventus earlier this summer but was tempted by their offer of a long-term contract. Meanwhile, Mac Allister only has two years left on his deal at Liverpool and has been linked with a sensational move to rivals Manchester United as well as Real Madrid.
But at a press conference in Chicago, as Liverpool prepare to start their pre-season tour of the United States, Iraola laid out his stance. "I think Alexis has been one of the best players at the club for the last few years, and he has had a very good World Cup, so it is normal that other clubs want our best players," the Reds boss explained. "It always happens in other markets. But I want to keep my good players. I'm looking forward more to signing new players rather than losing the ones we have here."
Regarding Alisson's future, Iraola said: "I'm very happy with the situation we have right now in the goalkeeping area. Alisson is someone also in a changing room that has lost some references in terms of experience. I think he's someone that definitely will help us in this process of adaptation of the new signings, of the new players, the young players. We need the references like Virgil [van Dijk], like Alisson, like Joe Gomez, players that have been here for a long time."
Defensive Depth Concerns
As for who Liverpool are looking to bring in, the Spaniard admitted that his side are 'very thin' in defence. "With the centre-back, with the right-back situation, in terms of defensive depth, we are, I think, very thin right now, so I think it's a solution that we are trying to find, yes," Iraola added.
Liverpool begin their pre-season tour by facing Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday before taking on Wrexham and Leeds United in New York City and Chicago respectively next week. They'll also welcome Monaco and Como to Anfield next month.
