6 days ago
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Arne Slot has suggested Alexis Mac Allister could start Sunday’s Community Shield, although Liverpool looks as though it could be without two players against Crystal Palace.
Mac Allister missed the Reds’ first three games of pre-season before returning against Yokohama F Marinos last week. The midfielder had previously been absent for the final four games of the 2024/25 campaign through injury, as well as sitting out international duty with Argentina.
Having only recently returned to full training, and having not played a full game since making his comeback from injury, there are obvious doubts about whether he will be ready to start the new season, with Liverpool kicking off its Premier League title defense against Bournemouth just five days after Sunday’s trip to Wembley.
Slot though has confirmed Mac Allister will be in his squad at the weekend, and also suggested he could make a start. “He will be in the squad [on Sunday],” Slot said in his press conference on Friday.
“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.”
Liverpool though looks as though it will be without Joe Gomez, while Conor Bradley remains a doubt after missing the double-header against Athletic Club earlier this week.
Both have picked up injuries during pre-season, raising doubts over whether they will be back in time for next week’s league opener at Anfield.
On Gomez, Slot said: “Unfortunately he has a minor injury at the moment but he will be back with the team very soon.”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk should be back for Sunday’s game after missing Monday’s games through illness. The defender was seen in training on Thursday, along with goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The Brazilian left the Reds’ tour of Asia early to return to South America, with his wife having recently undergone surgery, although he has been seen back at the AXA Training Centre this week and could return to Slot’s lineup at Wembley.
Darwin Nunez though looks to have played his last game for Liverpool, with the striker expected to undergo a medical in Germany ahead of completing his move to Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal.
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