Alexis Mac Allister has been a standout performer for Argentina at the World Cup, helping drag his team from the brink of defeat against England to a final showdown with Spain. However, his impressive displays have prompted questions from Liverpool supporters: where has this player been for much of the last 12 months?
Mac Allister's Liverpool Struggles
While there were occasional glimpses of Mac Allister at his tigerish best—such as the Champions League win over Real Madrid and his injury-time interventions at Nottingham Forest—they were few and far between during an attritional campaign for both team and player. Too often, the 27-year-old appeared off the pace, allowing games to pass him by for large periods in midfield, and failed to provide sufficient defensive cover for a creaking rearguard.
True, there were fitness issues during the second quarter of 2025, but that did not prevent Mac Allister from being an almost ever-present last season. No player appeared in more matches for Liverpool, and perhaps fatigue played its part. However, that has not stopped the midfielder making a huge impact for Argentina at the World Cup, where he has played every minute in six out of seven games, with a cameo from the bench in the dead rubber against Jordan.
Factors Behind Improved Form
The slower pace of the game, being surrounded by a settled group of players, and having fewer defensive responsibilities than at Liverpool under Arne Slot have benefited Mac Allister. Nevertheless, the disparity in performance levels raises questions over whether Mac Allister—already a World Cup winner with Argentina four years ago—was possibly holding back for the tournament, with Liverpool having only Champions League qualification to play for in the closing weeks.
And he is not the only player to whom this applies.
Alisson Becker's Admission
Alisson Becker was in a somewhat different position, having missed much of the latter stages of the campaign with a hamstring problem before returning for the season finale at home to Brentford. But the goalkeeper raised eyebrows with his admission ahead of the tournament: "I'm 100% and being out of games at Liverpool was to prepare me for the World Cup."
Alexander Isak's World Cup Impact
Alexander Isak's injury and fitness concerns hampered his season. He made just one brief substitute appearance in the final month of the campaign and was an unused substitute on the final day. Intriguingly, after scoring for Sweden as a substitute in a friendly defeat to Norway and starting against Greece, Isak went on to play all but a handful of minutes in his country's four World Cup games, scoring once and providing three assists.
Florian Wirtz's Quiet End to Season
To a lesser degree, Florian Wirtz, struggling with a stomach complaint, had minimal contribution over the last few weeks, missing the home draw with Chelsea and making a late substitute appearance in the final two games. He registered just one goal and two assists for Liverpool since the end of January. Yet while nowhere near his best and part of a dysfunctional Germany team, he still managed four goal contributions in six games for his country post-season, including three assists at the World Cup.
Looking Ahead
Mac Allister's run to the final means he will not link up with Liverpool until next month, with ongoing speculation of interest from Real Madrid adding further intrigue to his performances. The early elimination of the other three, however, means they will be expected to link up with new coach Andoni Iraola's squad during their forthcoming US tour. They can then begin to silence any whispers prompted by the World Cup and build on their upturn in fortunes of recent weeks.
