Mac Allister has just guaranteed he's going to be dropped against Man United despite scoring twice - opinion
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Arne Slot has some big calls to make ahead of Sunday’s meetings with bitter rivals Manchester United.The international break is over and Premier League football will soon return, meaning the Reds have a big weekend ahead.Not only do they need to end a run of three losses on the bounce, but they must do so against Man United in one of English football’s biggest ever fixtures.Join our newsletter for news & smart analysis. Slot will have plenty of decisions to make in terms of team selection, with the midfield battle something they must win on Sunday to control the game.Alexis Mac Allister has certainly put himself in contention to start after a successful week with Argentina, although there are a few reasons why he should drop to the bench.Photo by Leonardo Fernandez/Getty ImagesAlexis Mac Allister does not have much time to recoverInjuries are the main concern for clubs over the international break as things are very much out of their control, although Mac Allister appears to have escaped any more issues in this department.The next problem, mainly for South American players, is the travel time that they must endure, with the time difference also playing a huge factor.For ‘Macca’ he played the full 90 minutes for Argentina in the early hours of Wednesday morning UK time, meaning that it is a quick turnaround for him to start on Sunday.As well as this, their game against Puerto Rico took place in Florida, meaning that he has over 4,000 miles to travel just to get back to Liverpool.READ MORE: Florian Wirtz may be in trouble after what ‘brilliant’ Liverpool star just did for his countryOf course, it is more than possible that he feels well enough to play, although in such a big game where Liverpool must get three points, it is unlikely that Slot will risk him from the off.Curtis Jones must start vs Man UnitedAnother reason why Mac Allister should not start is because of the options Liverpool have, with Curtis Jones raring to go.The scouser has had a full rest after not being included in England’s squad, meaning that he has had over a week to train specifically for this clash.
When he has come off the bench this season he has mostly impressed as well, with his contributions deserving of a start.He will know better than most what this fixture means as well and can bring the energy to the midfield that has perhaps been missing in recent weeks, suggesting it is a no-brainer for Slot.