Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is handing Andoni Iraola a fresh dilemma after his heroics against Villarreal in the Champions League earlier this week

Alexis Mac Allister has scored eight goals for Liverpool in the Champions League. Each of them has come at Anfield in a strange quirk, with the latest two a continuation of his excellent early-season form this term.

Under Andoni Iraola, the 27-year-old former Brighton ace has looked like a different player. Last year, he appeared to be playing with concrete in his boots; just a few months on, he has arguably been Liverpool's most important man, alongside Alexander Isak.

Where he looked physically incapable of matching the demands of the modern Premier League in his second year under Arne Slot, Mac Allister is now reborn.

Putting a finger on exactly what has changed is tricky. Mac Allister is playing a similar role compared to last season, positionally at least. If anything, he is being asked to run more now — something that looked impossible only a short time ago.

Whatever it is, though, there has been a clear turnaround, as a sprightly performance against Villarreal showed once again this midweek. He scored a brace and was generally excellent.

"Last year was a really difficult year for all of us," Mac Allister told Amazon Prime. "It was clear I was not at the level and I am the first one to say.

"Something wasn’t right in the group, and this manager changed it. The way we play is different. I don’t like to compare, but I’m feeling good."

At the start of last month, Mac Allister spoke ahead of facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League about feeling "sad" that midfield compatriots Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch had been handed extensions, and yet he hadn't.

Perhaps that can partly explain the upturn in form. Liverpool has not yet begun negotiations over an extension, and that might be some extra motivation for a player who has made it clear that he wants to stay.

In reality, though, Mac Allister may face an uphill battle. The South American still has almost two years left to run on the deal that he penned when he arrived at Anfield in 2023.

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By the time that expires, Mac Allister will be approaching 30, after which there are very few examples of Liverpool players being given extensions.

Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, who have both been in that situation recently, are the exceptions rather than the rule. Others, like Gini Wijnaldum, have been moved on.

So far, there have been no contract talks with Mac Allister. If he keeps up this form, though, the clamor for that situation to change will only grow and grow.