Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister MISSES Argentina game after injury scare

Argentina ambled to a 1-1 draw with a struggling Venezuela side last night.

The game was marred by a washed-out pitch, meaning that any attempt to actually play football was virtually impossible in the north-eastern city of Maturín.

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The world champions opened the scoring with a Nicolas Otamendi tap-in following a horrible ricochet from a crossed free kick by Lionel Messi. They then spent the majority of the game with the pitch stemming their counterattacks, before former Everton man Salomon Rondon levelled it up for Venezuela in the 65th minute.

As a result, it might have been a blessing in disguise that Alexis Mac Allister didn’t see the pitch.

Reds have been worried about the midfielder since he was substituted at half-time in Liverpool’s last game against Crystal Palace, with injury rumours rife.

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Mac Allister was suffering from a knock, admitting that he was training separately and was a serious doubt for the game. 

"We'll make the decision whether he'll be part of the squad or on the bench or play on Thursday. But today it's unlikely he'll make it.” said Scaloni in his pre-match press conference.

Mac Allister's absence

Mac Allister was named on the bench after making the trip, but it was Marseille’s Leandro Balerdi and Roma’s Leandro Paredes that were called on to replace Giovanni Lo Celso and Enzo Fernandes, respectively, during the game.

With the conditions being how they were, however, the chance of Mac Allister reaggravating the issue that he currently has would have been likely. Not being 100% fit, then, might serve the player and Liverpool in the long-term.

Mac Allister was a doubt during the last international break also, but played out the last 25 minutes in a loss to Colombia before returning to Liverpool’s starting lineup.

Liverpool have an intense three-week period between international breaks now, having to play Chelsea, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Leipzig, Leverkusen and Brighton (twice). All of these teams are performing well in their respective leagues so far.

It will be the first true test of what new head coach Arne Slot’s Liverpool are made of. Alexis Mac Allister will be necessary if Liverpool are to emerge from this period with any semblance of success.

Argentina host Bolivia in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (1am Wednesday BST).