Alexis Mac Allister appeared to offer some positive news for Liverpool supporters after being substituted at halftime during the 1-0 victory over Burnley on Sunday. The Argentine was the victim of a reckless challenge from Lesley Ugochukwu, which former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett argued should have been a red card rather than just a yellow. As a precaution, manager Arne Slot decided to take off the 26-year-old at the break.
With Liverpool set to face Atletico Madrid at home on Wednesday to kick off their Champions League campaign, the quick turnaround had some fans worried that Mac Allister might be doubtful for the upcoming game.
However, following the Burnley win, Mac Allister posted on Instagram, hinting that he’s likely to be available for selection against Diego Simeone’s side. He wrote: “A hard-fought away win, good work by the team. Time to recover my ankle and think about a new Champions League campaign.”
The latter part of his message suggests his attention is already on Wednesday’s match, indicating no lasting issues from Ugochukwu’s dangerous tackle.
Mac Allister had missed the previous match at Newcastle due to a muscle injury and recently played the full game for Argentina in their loss to Ecuador at high altitude. Slot had mentioned that he planned to limit Mac Allister to around 60 minutes at Turf Moor regardless.
It seems likely that Mac Allister will be fit to start against Atletico, though he might not play the entire match unless the situation demands it.
Despite Curtis Jones being out, Liverpool will have almost their full squad available for Wednesday’s game. Managing player minutes will be vital, especially with seven games scheduled in 21 days before the October international break.
All signs point to Mac Allister being ready for the Atletico clash, and Liverpool will definitely need the top-class midfield duo of him and Ryan Gravenberch when facing strong Champions League opponents. Hopefully, both will start midweek!
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