Liverpool’s midfield plans for the upcoming clash with Manchester United have been thrown off by Argentina’s late decision to reschedule and relocate Alexis Mac Allister’s friendly against Puerto Rico.
According to TyC Sports, the match will now take place on Tuesday night in Miami instead of Monday in Chicago, giving Arne Slot a headache over Mac Allister’s recovery time before United’s visit to Anfield.
Fixture change disrupts Liverpool’s preparation
Mac Allister has been handled with care since the end of last season due to ongoing fitness concerns. Slot previously admitted the midfielder’s pre-season was heavily affected, and so far this campaign, the 26-year-old has not completed a full 90 minutes. The coaching staff remain cautious not to overload him amid a congested early-season schedule.
The original plan would have allowed the Argentine to return to Merseyside with five full days of preparation before facing United. However, the change means he won’t rejoin training until Thursday, tightening the turnaround and possibly forcing Slot to consider Curtis Jones, who stayed at the AXA Training Centre, or Florian Wirtz as midfield options if Mac Allister isn’t fully ready.
Reason behind Argentina’s venue switch
TyC Sports explained that the change was made for “organisational reasons,” including more time for ticket sales. But reports from Argentina suggest that protests in Chicago over U.S. immigration policies under President Donald Trump also influenced the move, with local authorities unable to ensure event security.
As a result, Lionel Scaloni’s squad will remain in Miami for the rest of the tour, sparing them an extra flight but leaving Mac Allister with one fewer recovery day ahead of Liverpool’s toughest test yet this season.
With seven matches in 22 days after the international break, Slot knows careful management of players like Mac Allister could be crucial in keeping Liverpool’s title challenge on track.
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