Alexis Mac Allister’s future has become a talking point after Liverpool chose not to hand him a new contract. The midfielder remains tied to Anfield until 2028, but the absence of an extension has left the situation open to interpretation.

His standing at the club has not always been in doubt. Mac Allister was outstanding in his first season and played a central role as Liverpool secured their second Premier League title in 2024-25. Even so, there was a clear drop-off during Arne Slot’s difficult second season in charge, which explains why the club may be reluctant to move quickly.

The 27-year-old has since apologised for remarks he made, saying they were the result of an emotional reaction to a difficult moment. That has not removed the broader issue, though. With no renewal agreed and the contract already ticking towards its final years, interest from elsewhere remains a realistic possibility.

One club mentioned in connection with him is Manchester City, who were viewed as considering him as a possible alternative to Enzo Fernández in the summer. However, they ultimately moved on to their preferred option, and after restructuring their midfield so quickly, a move for a player with Mac Allister’s profile appears unlikely in the near term.

Atlético Madrid also sit among the potential destinations. Diego Simeone has not been shy about welcoming compatriots, and the club may soon need to think about succession planning around Koke, whose long service remains remarkable. At the same time, Atlético are already well stocked in midfield, with Morten Hjulmand and Kang Lee-in added in the summer, while Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo Mendoza and Ottó Vargas are all part of the picture.

That makes Mac Allister less of a specific target and more of a market opportunity. Even so, Simeone’s interest is easy to imagine.

Enzo Maresca has dismissed the backlash around Manchester City’s disputed derby winner, arguing that the reaction has taken attention away from his side’s display. The City manager said it was “quite poor” that the performance was being overlooked, while also pointing to a similar call that went against City in a 2023 derby.

The incident centred on Fernández, who went up to challenge for the ball and missed it, leaving Haaland onside from the original cross. The debate came down to the Argentine’s position in front of goal, with his movement affecting the reactions of others around him.

On Match Officials Mic’d Up, referee chief Howards Webb admitted the VAR focus narrowed too heavily on Haaland. “The VAR gets super focused on Haaland,” Webb said. “He establishes he’s onside, he thinks that’s a good goal. He doesn’t truly evaluate the full impact of Fernández’s position.”

City had already spent much of the match playing with 10 men after Phil Foden was sent off in the first half for tangling with Bruno Fernandes. That context, Maresca argued, mattered just as much as the disputed goal.

“Talking about one episode or one moment after that game when we played for 70-75 minutes with 10 players, I think it’s quite poor,” Maresca said on Wednesday, his first press conference since the officials publicly acknowledged the error on Sunday.

He also made clear that he believed the team’s display deserved recognition. “I think the performance was unbelievable, and I’m pleased with the performance.”

Maresca did not deny City benefited from a mistake, but framed it as part of the game rather than a special case.

“There is knowledge that there was a mistake and that’s all. Sometimes it goes for you, sometimes against you. It’s football,” he said.

To underline his argument, the new City boss referred back to January 2023, when United won a derby 2-1 after coming from behind. Bruno Fernandes scored the equaliser after an offside Marcus Rashford chased the ball without touching it, then left it for his teammate.

Premier League referees’ chief Howard Webb has clarified why Bruno Fernandes escaped dismissal after his clash with Phil Foden in Sunday’s derby, describing the United captain’s action as “petulant” rather than “violent.”

The incident came in the first half when Foden went to ground over the ball and was struck twice by Fernandes’ foot. Before referee Michael Oliver had acted, Foden responded by kicking out toward Fernandes’s chest. That led to a red card for the City player, who was then taken away by teammates.

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca accepted that Foden had crossed the line, but believed Fernandes should have received the same punishment. “Phil’s card is a red card,” Maresca told assembled media after the 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford, “but I also think the same action is a red card by Bruno.”

Webb disagreed, and on a new episode of Match Officials Mic’d Up he said: “I agree with the red card for Phil Foden,” Webb explained. “He kicks out with force into the upper body of Bruno Fernandes.

“Now, when you look at the footage, there is that petulant kick by Bruno Fernandes into the backside of Foden. It is more petulant than violent.

“To be violent conduct, it has to have excessive force or brutality. When you look at that, particularly in full speed, it doesn’t have those elements. So therefore, this would be a yellow card offense.”

The judgement was always likely to remain with the officials on the field, as it was not the sort of subjective call VAR would overturn. But the larger controversy from the match centred on the goal awarded for City’s winner, where Webb also acknowledged a mistake had been made.

He said the VAR became too focused on Erling Haaland being onside and did not fully assess the role of Enzo Fernández, who dived in front of Lisandro Martínez from an offside position. United’s manager was left frustrated, calling the decision: “It’s as obvious as it gets.”