Alexis Mac Allister drops Liverpool fitness update after injury scare vs Burnley

Alexis Mac Allister was forced off at half-time in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Burnley after being on the receiving end of a tackle from Lesley Ugochukwu

Alexis Mac Allister of Liverpool(Image: Lee Parker

Alexis Mac Allister has given a hint over his fitness situation to Liverpool after being withdrawn at half time during Sunday’s victory over Burnley. The Argentina star required treatment after being on the receiving end of a tackle from Clarets star Lesley Ugochukwu.

Mac Allister stayed on the pitch until the interval before being replaced by Conor Bradley at the break, with Dominik Szoboszlai moving into midfield following the change. Liverpool managed to win the game thanks to a stoppage time penalty from Mohamed Salah, which was awarded after a handball from Hannibal Mejbri.

The Argentina international has experienced a stop-start beginning to the campaign after missing the conclusion of last term with an unspecified injury, reports the Liverpool Echo. After returning during pre-season following a three-month absence, a minor setback then ruled Mac Allister out of Liverpool’s 3-2 triumph at Newcastle United.

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The 26-year-old appears to have eased concerns regarding his latest knock, with the midfielder eagerly anticipating the Reds’ Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening.

“A hard-fought away win, good work by the team,” wrote Mac Allister on Instagram in a post to his 8.5million followers.

“Time to recover my ankle and think about a new Champions League campaign. Never in doubt Mo Salah.”

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Liverpool head coach Arne Slot also provided an update on Mac Allister’s fitness as he explained the decision to substitute the midfielder at half-time against Burnley.

“Not tactically, it was a bit of both. He [Mac Allister] missed a lot of pre-season,” said Slot on Sunday. “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.

Alexis Mac Allister received medical treatment at Turf Moor

“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.”