Alexis Mac Allister was forced off with an ankle injury in Liverpool’s win over Burnley
Mac Allister managed to continue after his injury but was replaced at half-time.
Alexis Mac Allister has offered an injury hint after being forced off in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Burnley. The Argentina international took a blow to his ankle after being on the receiving end of a late challenge from Lesley Ugochukwu early in the first half.
The midfielder played on despite the knock, but was withdrawn at half-time as Arne Slot introduced Conor Bradley in his place. Without the Argentine, the Reds managed to snatch a last-gasp victory thanks to a 95th minute penalty from Mohamed Salah.
Mac Allister has endured a disjointed start to the season after missing the end of the previous campaign with an unspecified injury.
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Returning midway through pre-season after a three-month lay-off, a minor issue then saw him sit out Liverpool’s 3-2 victory at Newcastle United.
Mac Allister has seemingly played down fears about his latest issue, with the 26-year-old looking forward to the start of the Reds’ Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night.
“A hard-fought away win, good work by the team,” he wrote on Instagram when reacting to Liverpool’s victory at Burnley. “Time to recover my ankle and think about a new Champions League campaign.
“Never in doubt Mo Salah.”
Slot also played down concerns about Mac Allister at his post-match press conference at Turf Moor, despite the midfielder’s afternoon coming to a premature end, as he admitted Liverpool are still having to manage his minutes carefully.
“Not tactically, it was a bit of both. He missed a lot of pre-season,” the Dutchman said when explaining the Argentine’s withdrawal. “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 into the midfield more, players who can attack the box, so a lot of arguments.”