Liverpool manager Arne Slot has given an update on midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s injury status.

Mac Allister was taken off at halftime after a tough challenge from Burnley’s Lesley Ugochukwu. However, Slot explained that the substitution wasn’t solely due to the physical challenge. Mac Allister is still working his way back to full match fitness after missing much of pre-season through injury.

Slot noted that Mac Allister “missed a lot of pre-season” and isn’t yet conditioned to handle a heavy match schedule. He estimated that the Argentine can currently manage “one game a week, maybe 70-90 minutes.” When pushed beyond that, his performance tends to drop. Slot highlighted that during international duty, Mac Allister showed fatigue after around 70 minutes, emphasizing the need to monitor his workload closely.

Additionally, the substitution had a tactical element. Slot moved Dom Szoboszlai into a more advanced midfield role to increase attacking options by bringing more players into the box. The decision to substitute Mac Allister also factored in the desire to avoid further strain.

Liverpool don’t have serious concerns about Mac Allister’s condition. Despite limping, Mac Allister reportedly felt he could continue, showing the mental resilience that Slot praised.

As Slot explained, as reported by Liverpool World:

“Not tactically, it was a bit of both. He missed a lot of pre-season. He is ready for one game a week, maybe 70-90 [minutes]. He played 90 for Argentina and was really tired after 70 so doesn’t have the right build-up to play three games a week, 90 minutes. I was always sure I would take him off after 60 minutes for him to be ready to be back on the pitch on Wednesday and Saturday and I already made one substitution in the first half.

“If I take him off on 60 minutes then I would have to make another one then if I want to make changes on 75 I can do nothing anymore. That combined with the tackle that was a tackle that he felt. I’m not surprised by the fact he felt that tackle, by the way. It was a combination of both. He said it was fine and good enough to go on although he limped a lot. That’s more his mentality that he could actually perform at his best for 15 minutes longer.

“A combination of him being injured, me not wanting to use a second substitution after 60 minutes and us not playing so well, by the way, so bring Dom [Szoboszlai] into the midfield more, players who can attack the box, so a lot of arguments and [it was] partly tactical.”

Slot has been careful with managing his squad, showing a cautious approach to player fitness. He has taken a similar approach with new signing Alexander Isak, who didn’t have a full season at Newcastle.

With the current squad depth, Slot can afford to be cautious while still having quality options available on the bench.