Alexis Mac Allister drops Liverpool injury hint ahead of Atletico Madrid game
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net.
Alexis Mac Allister has provided an update on his fitness after being substituted during Liverpool's 1-0 triumph over Burnley, with the Champions League game against Atletico Madrid looming.
The Argentina midfielder suffered an ankle knock following a hefty challenge from Lesley Ugochukwu in the opening period.
The 26-year-old returned during pre-season following a three-month absence, though a minor setback ruled him out of Liverpool's 3-2 success at Newcastle United.
Mac Allister appears to have eased worries surrounding his latest knock, with the midfielder eager for the Reds' Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening.
"A hard-fought away win, good work by the team," he posted on Instagram following Liverpool's Burnley victory.
"Time to recover my ankle and think about a new Champions League campaign.
He missed a lot of pre-season," the Dutchman explained when discussing the Argentine's substitution.
"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
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."