Liverpool’s plans for their upcoming clash with Manchester United have been disrupted after Argentina moved Alexis Mac Allister’s friendly against Puerto Rico to a new venue and later date.
As confirmed by TyC Sports, the match will now take place on Tuesday night in Miami instead of Monday in Chicago, leaving manager Arne Slot worried about his midfielder’s recovery time before the crucial Premier League fixture.
Mac Allister has been managed cautiously due to lingering fitness problems that date back to last season, and he has yet to play a full 90 minutes this campaign. Slot and his staff have been careful not to push him too hard amid Liverpool’s busy schedule.
Initially, the Argentina international was expected to return to Merseyside with ample time to prepare for the United game, but the schedule change means he won’t be back in training until Thursday. That short turnaround could see Slot turn to Curtis Jones, who stayed at the AXA Training Centre, or potentially give Florian Wirtz a chance in midfield.
TyC Sports explained that the rescheduling was for organisational and ticketing reasons, though reports also point to protests in Chicago over immigration policies under Donald Trump as a safety concern behind the switch.
With Argentina now staying in Miami for the remainder of their tour, Mac Allister loses a valuable recovery day ahead of Liverpool’s toughest test yet.
Given that the Reds face seven matches in just 22 days after the international break, Slot’s ability to manage key players’ workloads — especially that of Mac Allister — could be crucial in sustaining their momentum in the title race.
Leave a Reply