Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister dodged a bullet by snubbing Liverpool rivals (2025)

Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister have been key players for Liverpool this season and have both now won the Premier League title with the Reds after previously being targeted by rival clubs

Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister must be relishing their choice to join Liverpool, having just celebrated the club's Premier League title win. Both players had been on the radar of other English clubs before they arrived on Merseyside.

Arne Slot's squad needed a draw against Tottenham Hotspur to secure Liverpool's 20th league title. On Sunday, the Anfield faithful cheered their team to a resounding 5-1 triumph over Spurs, with both Diaz and Mac Allister finding the back of the net, sparking jubilant scenes.

The duo played in all but one of Liverpool's league matches during their title run and more than earned their Premier League winners' medals. However, their careers could have taken a different path, as they were previously sought after by rival teams that have since failed to emulate Liverpool's success.

In January 2022, Liverpool snapped up Diaz from Porto for £49million. It was widely reported that Liverpool had fast-tracked their summer transfer plans after hearing about Spurs' interest in the Colombian winger. The deal was also rumoured to have been hastened by the Portuguese club's readiness to accept offers below Diaz's €80m release clause.

Liverpool clinched a League Cup and FA Cup double during Diaz's initial months at the club, ending his debut season with a loss in the 2022 Champions League final. Last season, he added another League Cup winners' medal to his collection before playing a key role in Slot's title-winning team this season.

Diaz, who was on the brink of signing for Spurs, would have had a significantly less successful stint in north London. Tottenham secured a fourth-place finish in 2022 but failed to qualify for European football the following year.

Under Ange Postecoglou's management, they narrowly missed out on a Champions League spot last season and have since plummeted to 16th in the Premier League table. Their remaining aspirations are pinned on winning the Europa League.

In a similar vein, Liverpool had to fend off competition to secure the signature of Mac Allister from Brighton in 2023. Chelsea were among the clubs rumoured to be interested in the midfielder before his move to Anfield was finalised for an initial £35m.

While Mac Allister has lifted trophies in both of his seasons at Liverpool, he could have been part of a significant squad revamp at Chelsea. The west London club ended up sixth last year and are currently vying for a Champions League spot this season after implementing a frantic transfer strategy in recent years.

Mac Allister was one of four midfielders brought in by Jurgen Klopp in his final year as Liverpool manager. However, the Argentine's father, Carlos Mac Allister, revealed to the Liverpool ECHO that the club's keenness to sign his son and a chat with Klopp saw the Reds triumph in the transfer tug-of-war over their rivals, such as Chelsea and Manchester City.

"The reason why Alexis went to Liverpool is because they showed so much interest in having him on their team," Carlos said to the ECHO in October 2023. "They showed a desire to count on him and we wanted Alexis to go to a team where he could be settled for the start of pre-season; move on the first day of the transfer window - all that stuff. This was so important because we wanted him to have a good preparation with the team he decided to sign with.

"Jurgen Klopp was crucial a figure in the transfer. He was talking with Alexis. When he received the phone call from Jurgen it was important in deciding which team he should choose to play for."

The Liverpool squad is still likely revelling in the glory of clinching the Premier League title, as Diaz shared on Instagram: "Champions! A dream come true. History written with passion, hard work, and heart,".

In a similar vein, Mac Allister shared his joy with an emotional message on social media: "I never forget where I come from. From a family that taught me the value of hard work, from dreams born with an Irish surname and a truly Argentine heart. And today, from Liverpool, it writes an unforgettable chapter," found in his social media post.

"When I joined this club, I knew it was a special place. But what I've experienced this year has gone beyond anything I ever imagined."

Mac Allister added: "Today, lifting the Premier League trophy with Liverpool is the dream come true. One that began many years ago, and today becomes reality."

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