Iraola insists Mac Allister and Alisson will stay at Liverpool as he targets defensive signings

Mac Allister staying put

Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola has dismissed speculation linking Alexis Mac Allister with a move away from Anfield, insisting the Argentine midfielder remains central to his plans. Speaking at a press conference in Chicago at the start of the club's US pre-season tour, Iraola acknowledged that Mac Allister's performances at the World Cup, where he helped Argentina reach the final, had attracted interest from other clubs. The 27-year-old has two years left on the five-year deal he signed in 2023 and has yet to begin talks over an extension. Iraola, however, was unequivocal.

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. I'm looking forward more to signing new players rather than losing the ones we have here.

Mac Allister is not expected to be fully fit for the Premier League opener against Newcastle on 9 August, having been given extended leave after the World Cup final.

Alisson's leadership valued

Iraola also moved to end rumours of a Juventus approach for goalkeeper Alisson, who has one year remaining on his contract. The Brazilian, 33, is seen as a key dressing-room figure following the departure of several experienced players. Iraola said he was happy with the goalkeeping situation, listing Alisson, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Freddie Woodman as the three senior keepers, with Armin Pecsi set to go out on loan.

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.

Iraola named Virgil van Dijk, Alisson, and Joe Gomez as the long-serving players whose leadership would be crucial.

Defensive shortages

The manager admitted Liverpool are "very thin" defensively, with right-back Conor Bradley still months away from a return after sustaining a knee injury in January. Hugo Ekitiké is also a long-term absentee. Stefan Bajcetic and Wataru Endo are close to rejoining full training, while Giovanni Leoni is the next in line to recover.

If you have a fully fit, healthy Conor Bradley, we are very happy, ready to go and we would not be asking ourselves these questions. I think it's a situation that is tricky, because we trust Conor in the long term, we know we want him to be our right-back but right now he is still, I would say, a little bit far from returning.

Iraola confirmed the club is actively looking for defensive reinforcements in the transfer window.

Pre-season underway

Liverpool began their pre-season with a young squad at a training camp in Chicago before facing Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday. New signings Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak, and Ryan Gravenberch are set to join the group. The tour will provide Iraola with an early chance to assess his squad's depth ahead of the new campaign.