Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is a fresh injury concern after Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admitted the player has been training separately since reporting for international duty.

Mac Allister unusually went off at half-time of Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at the weekend, a result which kept the Reds top of the Premier League table.

Afterwards, he quickly played down the significance of the problem, admitting to feeling “slight discomfort” but then insisting it was “nothing that will stop me”.

Mac Allister then flew to South America, seemingly confirming there was no issue, and linked up with Argentina’s squad for World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia.

But when speaking at a press conference ahead of the first game, Scaloni put major doubt on whether Mac Allister will be fit enough to feature for his country.

“Alexis is training [separately],” the coach explained.

“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.”

Scaloni worryingly added: “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 fans will be frustrated that Mac Allister, who has been a key player ever since his arrival from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2023, travelled at all when injury was a potential issue.

The Reds are due to face an in-form Chelsea side, albeit missing half of Enzo Maresca’s preferred back four, when club football resumes later this month. Arne Slot has paired Mac Allister with Ryan Gravenberch in central midfielder so far this season, tending to use Dominik Szoboszlai as a ’10’.

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