Alexis Mac Allister will return to Liverpool after Argentina's World Cup final defeat, where the team's behaviour has drawn criticism. The midfielder claimed other countries have been rejoicing in Argentina's pain, but Andoni Iraola will be more focused on how this affects his club form.
Argentina's siege mentality
Whatever your take on the behaviour of Argentina's players during and after the World Cup final, you have to admire their siege mentality. They are getting flak from many angles but are simply doubling down on how proud they are and how the criticism will only make them stronger. There will be no apologies now, or ever.
Patriotism is tough to measure but there is clearly no shortage of it amongst Argentinian footballers. As a rule, their messages to supporters and their nation tend to be a little more emotional than those put out by English players. Lisandro Martinez even channelled some popular modern philosophy into his reflections, posting: 'Remember that the fall of the great is the joy of the mediocre.'
Mac Allister's response
His Liverpool counterpart, Alexis Mac Allister, warmed to the theme, writing: 'Thank you to those from other countries who send us messages mocking or rejoicing in our pain. Without meaning to, you help us feel more and more proud to be Argentinian every day.'
It does not sound as though Mac Allister is up for saying sorry for the conduct of some of his team-mates any time soon. When he refers to 'other countries', you can be sure England is at the top of his list.
Reception in Premier League
It will be intriguing to see what sort of receptions the Premier League's Argentinian players will get when the new club season starts in the middle of next month. There is unlikely to be open hostility but there will most definitely be reminders of how they behaved in New Jersey on the game's biggest stage.
When Mac Allister says people were 'mocking or rejoicing in our pain', he was mistaken. People were not 'mocking or rejoicing', they were simply pointing out that Argentina, on this occasion, proved to be rotten, violent losers.
Impact on Liverpool form
The same will be pointed out to Mac Allister and Martinez when they take to the field for Liverpool and Manchester United in the Premier League. Andoni Iraola, in particular, will be hoping the antipathy towards Argentina's national side proves to be a spur for Mac Allister after what was pretty much a season-long trough in form.
In 37 Premier League appearances for Liverpool last season, Mac Allister contributed two goals and four assists. In 35 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, he contributed five goals and five assists. He was tireless in the World Cup - only Rodri covered more distance in the tournament - but often looked off the pace as Liverpool laboured to their fifth-placed finish.
Iraola's comments
After reports linking Mac Allister with a move to Real Madrid, Iraola was compelled to stress that he wanted to keep the 27-year-old. The new Liverpool manager said: '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. But I want to keep my good players.'
Fair enough. But there is surely no doubt he wants to keep the Mac Allister of 24/25 rather than the Mac Allister of 25/26. Perhaps his anger at the 'mocking and rejoicing' will inspire him to get back to his best. Liverpool fans and Iraola will certainly hope so.
