Lionel Scaloni has given an update on Alexis Mac Allister’s fitness ahead of Argentina’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Thursday night.
The Liverpool midfielder was withdrawn at half-time in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace last weekend with a groin injury, although he’s still travelled to South America for international duty with the world champions.
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Mac Allister an injury doubt for Argentina
Argentina head coach Scaloni spoke to the media on Tuesday night ahead of tomorrow’s match, and he admitted that it’s hard to envisage Mac Allister being fit enough to feature against Venezula.
The 46-year-old said (via TyC Sports, translated from Spanish): “Alexis is training differently. Let’s see if he is ready for the first game. For now he has not been able to train with us and we will make the decision if he is part of the squad or the bench, but today it is difficult for him.
“I think we have to take care of him. He is a boy who comes with a lot of games and today the situation is like this.”
Liverpool won’t be happy about Mac Allister travelling despite injury concern
Arne Slot may have been pleased to see Darwin Nunez jetting to South America to link up with Uruguay after his international ban was suspended, but we can’t imagine the Liverpool boss feels the same about Mac Allister leaving for Argentina duty.
Whereas our number 9 could benefit from more game-time due to his lack of starts at Anfield, the ex-Brighton midfielder has been our fourth most-used player so far this season (Transfermarkt) and could’ve done without flying across the Atlantic so soon after picking up an injury.
It already looks certain that he won’t play tomorrow, leaving him to target an appearance in next Tuesday night’s match against Bolivia, which falls worrying close to our subsequent fixture against Chelsea the following weekend.
Mac Allister was also blighted by fitness issues during last month’s international window, and Slot won’t be amused with the latest batch of ‘will-he-won’t-he’ headlines surrounding the 25-year-old.
All we want is for our number 10 to come through his Argentina duty unscathed – when you look at the Reds’ upcoming fixtures, it’s clear that his industry and ingenuity in the middle of the park will be very much needed.