Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni provides injury update on Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister

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Evening Standard

·9 October 2024

Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni provides injury update on Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister

Mac Allister came off at half-time of Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace

Liverpool star Alexis Mac Allister is an injury doubt for Argentina’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers, coach Lionel Scaloni has admitted.

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Reds boss Arne Slot was unsure if Mac Allister would even join up with the Argentina squad after being forced to replace the midfielder at half-time of their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The 25-year-old picked up a groin injury and has linked up with his international team-mates, but may not feature in their World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on Thursday.

"He is training separately,” Scaloni said. “We'll see if he makes it to the first game.

"For now, he hasn't been able to join us, and, well, we'll make the decision if he's part of the squad or on the bench or if he plays on Thursday. But it's difficult for him to make it today.

Alexis Mac Allister came off at half-time during Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace

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"I think we have to take care of him. He's a guy who has a lot of games under his belt and that's the situation today. We hope we don't lose any more players because the situation can change later."

Argentina then host Bolivia next Wednesday as they bid to maintain their place at the top of the South American qualification table for the 2026 World Cup.

After the win over Palace, Slot had said: “He went off because of an injury. How bad? It is difficult for me to judge.

“He could have continued playing... but he didn't think it was good to because you never know if you will make it worse. Can he go to Argentina? That is difficult for me to tell you. [It's an issue] in his groin.”