Liverpool

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

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."

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said that he had not spoken with Alexis Mac Allister about his contract, backing up what the player said in his news conference.

But said he hopes he can help Mac Allister develop as a player and, "if all goes well, everything will be resolved".

More to follow.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said that managing in the Champions League was always his dream.

He added that it was a massive responsibility but also a privilege to take charge of six-time winners Liverpool in Europe's top club competition.

Full quotes to follow.

Liverpool

More from Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on whether the club told him why they would not renew his contract at this time:

"Not really, I did not have any direct conversations. They were with my agent.

"I don't want to say things they never said, but they said they were not in the position to renew me."

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on how close he came to leaving Liverpool in the summer:

"There was a chance, like everybody knows.

"I received the news that the club was not in a position to renew my contract, which of course makes me very sad.

"I think everyone can see I give my 100% for this club, every single day in training, I have good games, bad games. I always give my best.

"I see Dominik and Rayan renewing their contracts, which makes me happy. Same time it makes me sad I didn't get mine.

"There is still time, I will give my 100% until my last day. We will see what happens.

"There was options to leave this summer. Right now I'm in the right club."

Liverpool

On Alexis Mac Allister and his contract situation, Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola said the main thing was that the player wanted to stay at the club and fight for his place.

He added that there was still plenty of time to discuss a contract extension before his deal runs out in 2028.

Full quotes to follow.

Liverpool

Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola is talking now.

He started with a question about the departure of sporting director Richard Hughes, how it came as no surprise and how he continues to work with the remaining directors, who were involved in decisions made over the summer on recruitment.

Full quotes to follow.

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister spoke at length about the challenge Atletico Madrid will pose Liverpool, and how the side has been influenced by its Argentine manager, Diego Simeone, and players from his homeland.

He also discussed the injury problems that plagued him last season, which started during the previous campaign, when Liverpool won the Premier League under Arne Slot.

More to follow.

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on facing Atletico Madrid and his relationship with the Simeone family:

"It's going to be a really difficult game, like it was last season.

"It's not only Giuliano, Diego, there is a lot of Argentinian players, so I'm happy that we can face each other."

Liverpool

More from Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on his contract, which is due to run out in 2028.

He said he does not have to prove anything to Liverpool but needs to show he is capable of staying at the level required to play at the club.

Mac Allister added that he "loves" Liverpool - the club and city - and loves playing at Anfield.

He also said that he had not yet spoken to new manager Andoni Iraola about his contract situation.

More to follow.

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister on the start of the season and his lack of pre-season following the World Cup:

"I think every player is going through the same thing. It's good. I love playing football, I love being here.

"The start of the season, we look at the result and they are not the best, at Liverpool you have to win every game.

"I still see improvement, positive things that we have to keep doing and tomorrow is an important game."

Liverpool

Alexis Mac Allister added that he will see what happens in the future after giving more details about the discussions his agent had with Liverpool over the summer.

He reiterated that he feels sad about the way those contract discussions turned out.

More to follow.

Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister faces questions first.

He is asked about potentially facing Argentina team-mate Julian Alvarez when Atletico Madrid visit Anfield.

And also the potential of one day playing for Atletico as he discusses the sadness he feels at not getting a contract extension at Liverpool.

Mac Allister said that there was a chance he could leave Liverpool in the summer but feels that he is currently at the right club.

More to follow.

Image source, Getty Images

Andoni Iraola was appointed Liverpool manager on the back of a promising three seasons at Bournemouth, where he oversaw ever-improving Premier League finishes, from 12th in his first campaign to ninth in his second and then sixth last season.

After leading the Cherries into the Europa League, Iraola made the switch to Liverpool as replacement for sacked manager Arne Slot.

He now has the chance to prove his credentials at a club that has won 13 European trophies and six in the European Cup/Champions League.

The Spaniard will get an early a taste of life as a Champions League manager, and all the fixture congestion that involves.

September will see him lead Liverpool in three competitions, with a third-round Carabao Cup tie on the horizon, as well as matches in the Champions League and Premier League, finishing the month with a quickfire return to Bournemouth.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool's matches in September:

• 09 Sep - Liverpool v Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
• 12 Sep - Liverpool v Fulham (Premier League)
• 15 Sep - Liverpool v Tottenham (EFL Cup)
• 20 Sep - Bournemouth v Liverpool (Premier League)

Liverpool made a tentative start to their first Premier League campaign under new manager Andoni Iraola, with back-to-back 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

But they showed promising signs in their last match at newly promoted Ipswich Town, where they cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win, courtesy of a first-half brace from Alexander Isak.

Sweden striker Isak endured a difficult first season at Anfield following his protracted, record-breaking £125m move from Newcastle last summer.

Injuries and a loss of form blighted his debut campaign for the Reds, but the 26-year-old now looks to be coming good, according to football journalist Luke Edwards.

"If Liverpool are going to have anything like the season they aspire to have then he [Isak] has to be that world class centre-forward," Edwards told the Football Daily podcast.

"They were very, very good Alexander Isak finishes [against Ipswich]. It was the first time in 12 months that he has looked like a £125m centre-forward. Liverpool need him to come good."