Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister’s return to action remains uncertain after sustaining a “tricky” knee injury, according to manager Jurgen Klopp.
The Argentina international suffered the injury during a match against Sheffield United last week and was subsequently sidelined for Liverpool’s Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
He has also been excluded from the squad traveling for the Europa League match against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Klopp, addressing reporters, provided insights into the severity of Mac Allister’s injury, describing it as more complicated than initially anticipated.
The midfielder’s studs reportedly went through the muscle and to the bone, making it a painful injury that requires careful management.
“I would like to say it’s day to day, but we have to wait until Macca can deal with the pain. It’s a bit more tricky than we thought in the first moment. The studs went through the muscle and to the bone,” Klopp explained. “It’s painful for him, and we need to make sure there’s no infection. I’ve never had this injury in one of my players before, but hopefully, in the next three or four days, he makes big steps.”
The absence of Mac Allister adds to Liverpool’s injury concerns, with star defender Joel Matip already ruled out for the rest of the season due to an ACL injury. Klopp emphasized the need for caution in managing Mac Allister’s recovery, particularly to prevent infection.
Having secured qualification for the Europa League knockout stage, Klopp opted to leave key players, including Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk, out of the squad for the final group-stage clash against Union Saint-Gilloise.
Liverpool faces a critical Premier League fixture against Manchester United on Sunday, where the absence of Mac Allister will be felt in the midfield.
