International Injuries: Praying Bad Luck Doesn’t Come In Threes | OneFootball

Bad Luck Comes in Threes: Is the International Break Cursed for Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott?

I despise international breaks with a passion and can’t wait until they are over. International breaks are meant to be a time of reflection for some, an opportunity for players to represent their nations with pride. But for Liverpool, this break feels eerily unsettling. Two of their key players, Alexis Mac Allister and Harvey Elliott, are dealing with injury concerns. And as the old saying goes, bad luck often comes in threes. Everyone’s waiting for the next thing.

Photo: IMAGO

Alexis Mac Allister’s Troubled Break

It all started when Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni revealed that Alexis Mac Allister was struggling in training even before Argentina’s game against Chile. Scaloni mentioned, “Alexis didn’t train because he was overloaded, he was in pain. It always happens to us, they come out to do their part. We’ll wait and see how he responds today.”

That statement alone set alarm bells ringing for Liverpool fans. An overloaded player feeling pain? It was clear something wasn’t right. Fast forward to the match against Chile, and Alexis picked up a knock, forcing Scaloni to take him off. After the game, Scaloni addressed the media again with more grim news: “We still don’t know how Nico and Alexis are. They left because they were having discomfort. We’ll see if they can play against Colombia.”

It’s a worrying situation. Mac Allister, who has already been struggling with workload issues at his club, now faces a fitness battle for Argentina. Liverpool supporters are left to wonder just how serious this knock could be. Is it a minor scare, or something more significant? Seven games in 22 days when he comes back is a hell of a schedule, so it’s not like there’s a break coming for him either.

Harvey Elliott Sent Back for Medical Assessment

As if Mac Allister’s situation wasn’t enough, Harvey Elliott has also been sent back to Liverpool for medical assessment. Elliott, who was initially called up for England’s U21 squad, reported for duty at St. George’s Park but was soon on his way back to his club.

The official statement from the England camp read: “Harvey Elliott (Liverpool), Omari Hutchinson (Ipswich Town), Jaden Philogene (Aston Villa) and Sam Tickle (Wigan Athletic) initially reported to St. George’s Park earlier this week but have now returned to their clubs for further medical assessment.”

Photo: IMAGO

What exactly is wrong with Harvey Elliott remains unclear. The England statement did not give much away, but the fact that he’s been sent home for medical assessment is concerning. Could it be a precautionary move, or is there a deeper issue that Liverpool will have to manage? Although he’s only played 7 minutes, with so many games coming up Elliott was likely to see considerable minutes in the near future.

Argentine Journalist Confirms Mac Allister’s Condition

Adding to the mystery surrounding Mac Allister’s fitness is a report from Argentine journalist Gastón Edul, who confirmed that the midfielder is dealing with an adductor problem. Edul’s update read, “Alexis Mac Allister tiene una molestia en el aductor. Va a entrenarse diferenciado hasta el martes para poder llegar al partido contra Colombia.” (Translation: “Alexis Mac Allister has discomfort in his adductor. He will train separately until Tuesday to be ready for the match against Colombia.”)

This suggests that Mac Allister’s issue is more than just a light knock. Adductor problems can be tricky to recover from, especially if not managed properly. The thought of losing Mac Allister for an extended period is unsettling for Liverpool, who have already faced injury setbacks this season.

What’s the Third Bad Thing?

With two key Liverpool players facing injury concerns, the fear now shifts to what might be the third piece of bad luck to strike. International breaks have a notorious reputation for causing injuries, and Liverpool seem to be under a dark cloud right now. Could there be another setback waiting in the wings? Will another player return to Melwood carrying an injury? Fans will be holding their breath as the international break comes to a close, hoping that no further harm befalls the squad.

Quicker The Better

For now, the international break has brought more headaches than joys for Liverpool. The news of Mac Allister’s and Elliott’s injury concerns has already cast a shadow over the squad’s preparations for the season ahead. With Alexis nursing an adductor problem and Elliott back home for further assessment, the worst-case scenario is easy to think. And with that ever-present adage of “bad luck comes in threes,” you can’t help but wonder if there’s more trouble on the horizon for Liverpool. In football, things can turn in an instant. But for now, all eyes are on Mac Allister and Elliott, and every Liverpool fan will be anxiously awaiting updates on their conditions.