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Arne Slot eased concerns over Alexis Mac Allister after the midfielder was substituted at half-time during Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Burnley on Sunday.
The midfielder suffered a heavy challenge from Lesley Ugochukwu in the 16th minute, with Mac Allister caught high on the ankle by the former Chelsea player. On another day, it could have warranted a straight red card. Ironically Ugochukwu was sent off in the second half for a second yellow
Play was stopped for several minutes as he received treatment on the pitch, and although he appeared to move gingerly when action resumed, he managed to see out the first half.
Mac Allister, however, did not return for the second half and was replaced by Conor Bradley. The Northern Irishman slotted in at right-back, with Dominik Szoboszlai moving into the midfield position vacated by the World Cup winner.
However, Slot clarified after the match that the decision to withdraw the No. 10 was also partly tactical. "“It is similar to Alex [Isak] but in a completely different way" said Slot in his post-match press conference.
"He missed a lot of pre-season, so he is ready for one game a week, maybe [for] 70 to 90. He played 90 for Argentina and he was really tired after 70.
“He doesn’t have the right build-up towards playing three games a week for 90 minutes, so it was always sure today that I would take him off after 60 minutes for him to be able to be back on the pitch again on Wednesday and for him to be on Saturday back on the pitch again.
“I had already made one substitution in the first half, so if I then take him off at 60 minutes that would be my second one. If I then want to make [another on] 75 then in end I can do nothing anymore.
“So, that combined with the fact the tackle was a tackle he felt – and I am not surprised by the fact he felt that tackle, by the way – it was a combination of both."
Slot added: “He said it was fine and good enough to go on, although he limped a lot, so that was more his mentality I think than it was he could actually perform at his best for 15 minutes longer.
“So, the combination of him being injured and me not wanting to lose the second substitution after 60 minutes led to it – and us not playing so well, by the way. Bringing Dom [Szoboszlai] to the midfield, more players that can attack the box. So, a lot of arguments and [it was] partly tactical.”
Slot made early changes, with Milos Kerkez withdrawn before half-time after being booked. He was replaced by Andy Robertson inside 38 minutes.
On the decision, Slot said: “Not only the yellow card but afterwards, he played the ball no foul at all but referee blew his whistle, which can happen in football but sometimes. But the reaction of the fans and I saw players of them trying to go to the referee implementing: ‘Hey, if you think this is a foul, maybe you should give a yellow for it’ which would have been ridiculous of course.
“But then it’s a risk. The only way we could lose this game is if we go down to 10 because 11 vs 11, we could have drawn it but couldn’t have lost it because they were never over the halfway line never mind our 18-yard box. I didn’t want to take that risk, which was hard for Milos because normally you don’t have to take off a player if you have a yellow but I felt this was the best choice to make.”
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