Arne Slot has hinted that Alexis Mac Allister could start despite limited pre-season action, underlining the midfielder’s importance to the champions’ plans.
The Argentine missed the end of last season due to injury and only recently returned to full training. So far, he has appeared in two friendlies, including 56 minutes in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Athletic Bilbao.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s Community Shield clash, Slot said:
“He will be in the squad [on Sunday]. He was out for two months, I think, or longer, because we didn’t play him in the last four games of the season. He trained with us since a week now, played 30 minutes, 45 minutes. So that’s not a situation where you would start a player [and] play him for 90 minutes. Starting is possible, but definitely not for 90 minutes.”
Mac Allister was a key figure in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign last season, scoring seven goals and providing six assists in 49 appearances. His performances earned him a place on the 2025 Ballon d’Or longlist and a nomination for the PFA Player of the Year alongside Mo Salah, Florian Wirtz, and Captain Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool will be without Joe Gomez, who remains sidelined due to an Achilles injury that forced him to leave the club’s Asia tour early. Conor Bradley is also doubtful after missing the recent double-header against Athletic Bilbao.
On Gomez’s fitness, Slot added:
“Unfortunately he has a minor injury at the moment, but he will be back with the team very soon.”
