Liverpool

There was quite a lot to take in from that Liverpool news conference, so let us break it down for you.

Here is what the club's Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said:

• There was a chance he could have left Liverpool in the summer after the club failed to offer him a new contract, but extended deals for Dominik Szoboszlai and Rayan Gravenberch
• His agent was in discussions with the club but they said they were not in a position to renew his deal, which runs out in 2028
• The arrival of Andoni Iraola influenced his decision to stay as this felt like the right club, in the right moment

And here is how Reds manager Andoni Iraola responded:

• There is still time to talk about Mac Allister's contract, the important thing is how he has responded
• He has not spoken with Mac Allister about his contract but hopes to help him to develop and believes all the problems will be resolved

Aadam Patel
Football Reporter

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It's fair to say that Alexis Mac Allister had quite a lot to get off his chest and he has done that and more here.

We walked into the press conference room at Anfield thinking the focus would be on Andoni Iraola's first game as a manager in the Champions League. Instead, the talk is all about Mac Allister.

Quite clearly, there is a sadness on his part that he hasn't had the same treatment as Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch when it comes to a new deal and it is interesting that Mac Allister has chosen to air his thoughts in such a public setting.

Now it remains to be seen how this saga will play out over the course of the season.

At 27, and with his proven quality, Mac Allister would command a hefty fee in a market where the value of midfielders is only rising.

But Mac Allister is clear that he loves Liverpool and Andoni Iraola's suggestions that the Argentine can develop as a player suggests that there could be another chapter to Liverpool and Mac Allister's relationship.

Liverpool

A final word from Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on whether his side have time to improve the intensity of their play, with the amount of games they have coming up:

"It is something that has to be in us. We always have to be as intense as possible because we are better like that.

"Sometimes we have to control games, sometimes we have to have the ball more, but you can still do that and be intense, do things that make you a better team.

"I don't want my players to think we need to save energy because of a game in a few days. If you play 55 minutes for me and you are dead, then that is perfect.

"Let's push, let's do our best and I think we can increase our rhythm. The only way is pushing and being more demanding."

Liverpool

Andoni Iraola on how he will deal with his first Champions League match as Liverpool manager:

"It's a first game against one of the strongest opposition that we are going to face. At the end, it is football.

"We play against very good teams in the Premier League, I think I know Atletico Madrid quite well and some of their players.

"It is going to be a big test, even if I wasn't the manager. It's a massive test for the team overall and will show where we are as a team."

Liverpool

More from Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola on whether he will rotate the squad going forwards:

"This is going to be a challenge. I don't think this game is the worst scenario as we played on Friday, so we've had good recovery.

"I think it will be more difficult for next weekend and the next game against Spurs in the Carabao Cup. This is what big clubs do, you have to think about the next games.

"I will not tell you the starting line-up. My players still don't know the line-up, so I will not tell you.

"I have to consider we have more games and where they are physically. I don't think this match is the most difficult scenario we will have this season."

Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on whether Bradley Barcola is ready for his first start:

"I think he is ready for more minutes.

"He has been training quite normally, the only thing is he hasn't had the pre-season minutes that players have.

"I see him in a really good place and I see him like a normal player. He has not had minutes to build his form, but I see him playing very well."

Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on whether he feels up and running after the Ipswich win:

"We needed the win definitely.

"I was encouraged before that, I saw good performances from individual players and starting a lot stronger in the game, with a lot more intensity. It is something we want to continue."

Liverpool

Here is Andoni Iraola on the main differences between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid:

"I think they are a team that play very well.

"If you look at Simeone teams, they always have more possession in the first phase, they have build-up and it's difficult to tire them down.

"There's lots of rotation with players in offensive positions, so it's not easy for us tomorrow.

"We need to play our game. We need to be proactive, start well and press our opponents early in the game, like we did on Friday."

Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on Milos Kerkez's impact on his side despite criticism:

"I think Milos played really well the other day.

"I know him very well and what he can achieve. He still has big potential and he has good amount of experience in the Premier League and international team. I trust him.

"He has a lot to improve, like all the players, otherwise there is no bigger ceiling. I am ready to try to help him to become a better player."

Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on the departure of sporting director Richard Hughes:

"It wasn't a surprise when the news came last weekend. They are very good in their jobs and understand very well what they need to do. I wish him all the best.

"The club are still working with those who make the decisions over the summer and had continuous connection with Mike Gordon [president of owners Fenway Sports Group] and the needs. We will keep working."

On working with Hughes at Bournemouth and his involvement with bringing Iraola to the club:

"It's a matter of the club, the next step on where to go. The people who make decisions are still with us every day and I continue to talk them."

Liverpool

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Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on whether injury problems affected his performances last season:

"I was playing with pain, that started in the middle of the season we won the Premier League.

"It was painful and uncomfortable to play with, but that is what every player goes through. There are so many games and you always want to be there.

"No, I don't think that was the reason why. I take responsibility as it was not a good season for me or the team."

Liverpool

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As promised, here is more from Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

Here is what the Argentina midfielder said was the most difficult part about playing Atletico Madrid:

"You always talk that they are a defensive side, I don't believe too much in that.

"When they defend, they do it in a low block, which is hard to break down, but they have great players who play with great freedom. That makes them dangerous.

"The most difficult thing against them is to defend well. We have to be clear on what we have to do and to be aggressive.

"They have lots of Argentinian players, which might help them. They have that passion, desire to win, that we Argentinians have within us.

"[The manager] Diego [Simeone] has been there a long time and has been able to get his ideas across. Hopefully we will win it."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on his first Champions League game and facing Diego Simeone: "It is a special night for me. Everyone talks about Champions League nights at Anfield and the first game is against strong opposition.

"Simone is doing an incredible job. To be there all these years and achieving so much is remarkable. It is a big challenge for us. I played against him as a player and as a coach. He has much more experience than me of these games but I hope we can give him a big game."

Liverpool

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That was a bit of a whirlwind, with Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola taking the chair immediately after Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister openly expressed such "sadness" that he had not been offered a new contract by the club.

Iraola said that the fact Mac Allister was still at the club and had chosen to fight for his place rather than leave during the summer spoke volumes.

And while he confirmed that he had not spoken with Mac Allister about his contract, which runs out in 2028, he was looking forward to working with him and hoped all the "problems would be resolved".

The Liverpool news conference has now finished, but we have plenty more of those quotes to bring you, so stick with us.

Liverpool

More from Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on Alexis Mac Allister's contract situation: "I try to help my players, I don't know how much they earn. I know how to improve my players, to help them win games. The same with Alexis and everyone else.

"I am very happy with his performances, and I hope I can help him to still improve. He is very experienced player who has achieved massive things, but I hope he can develop as a player and if all goes well those problems will be solved".

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on whether Andoni Iraola's arrival had any impact on his decision to stay at Liverpool:

"Definitely, I could see something special when I came back for pre-season.

"He's a really good coach, he knows what he wants to do and we are trying to get there.

"I haven't had any conversations with him about it [contract].

"I think this can be a successful year, that's why I think this is the right club and the right moment to be here."

Liverpool

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Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola on Alexis Mac Allister's contract: "We all have personal situations with different contracts. The important thing is he wants to be here. We haven't been together a long time but he has been an important player and I rate him very highly. There is still a lot of time to talk about those contract situations."

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on his love for European nights at Anfield:

"It's so special for me, I really enjoy them.

"When I arrived to the club, we were in the Europa League and you can see the difference to a Champions League game.

"Hopefully we can play good football so the fans can get behind us."

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on belief Liverpool can win the Champions League:

"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."