Mac Allister: 'Something Wasn't Right' Before Iraola Arrived at Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister has opened up on the state of the Liverpool squad before Andoni Iraola's arrival, crediting the new boss with fixing problems that existed under predecessor Arne Slot.
ESPN reports that Mac Allister said "something wasn't right" within the group, and that it was Iraola who addressed the issues left behind by Slot (ESPN). Liverpool.com carries a similar line, with Mac Allister crediting Iraola for turning Liverpool's fortunes around after admitting "something was not right" before the Spaniard's arrival (Liverpool.com). The Liverpool Echo frames this as a "damning" admission about the Slot era, pointing out that Liverpool had finished last season in fifth place in the Premier League before the managerial change (Liverpool Echo).
This Is Anfield has the fullest version of the quote, with Mac Allister saying "something wasn't right in the group" and that "Iraola changed it" (This Is Anfield). The same outlet also explains the specific tactical tweak Iraola made that Mac Allister believes helped spark Liverpool's comeback (This Is Anfield), though the snippet does not detail exactly what that tweak was.
The context for these comments appears to be Liverpool's dramatic Champions League win over Villarreal, which TeamTalk says finished 4-3 after the Reds came back from two goals down, with Mac Allister scoring twice alongside a contribution from Rio Ngumoha (TeamTalk). The Liverpool Echo separately notes that teenage midfielder Trey Nyoni also impressed in that Villarreal game, and looks at what Mac Allister has been doing to help Nyoni's development while he waits for further opportunities (Liverpool Echo).
Elsewhere, there is a contract subplot running alongside Mac Allister's on-field impact. TeamTalk describes Liverpool's stance on a new deal for the midfielder as a "baffling decision," made despite his two-goal showing against Villarreal (TeamTalk). This Is Anfield similarly reports that Liverpool are maintaining their contract stance on Mac Allister "despite" his good form, though neither outlet spells out in the snippets exactly what that stance involves (This Is Anfield).
Taken together, the outlets agree on the central claim: Mac Allister believes Iraola has fixed something that had gone wrong under Slot, and his words have come in the wake of a strong personal and team performance against Villarreal. Where they differ is in emphasis - ESPN and Liverpool.com focus on the dressing-room diagnosis, the Liverpool Echo and This Is Anfield add detail on the quotes and tactics, while TeamTalk and This Is Anfield both flag an apparently unresolved contract situation running in parallel to his improved form.
Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.
