Liverpool handed Mohamed Salah boost for Manchester United clash as Alexis Mac Allister decision looms | OneFootball

Reds desperate to bounce back from run of three straight losses as they welcome their fiercest rivals to Anfield after the international break

Liverpool look to have been handed a new boost over Mohamed Salah’s fitness ahead of their looming showdown with Manchester United, though may yet have a decision to make over Alexis Mac Allister.

Arne Slot’s side were sunk again by a last-gasp Estevao Willian goal at Stamford Bridge last time out, leaving the defending champions sitting second in the top-flight and a point behind familiar title rivals Arsenal, who have a much better goal difference as things stand.

In a further boost ahead of the visit of Manchester United, Egyptian sports news outlet KingFut.com now report that Salah will not play in Sunday’s final qualifier at home to Guinea-Bissau in Cairo with qualification already guaranteed, though will stay with Hossam Hassan’s squad in order to celebrate their achievement.

Slot may yet have a decision to make on the fitness of influential midfielder Mac Allister against United, after Argentina’s second fixture of the current round of international games was moved.

The reigning world champions were initially due to face Puerto Rico in a friendly in Chicago on Monday evening, though that match will now take place on Tuesday at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida - home of Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami.

On the scoresheet: Salah scored twice for Egypt against Djibouti but will not play against Guinea-Bissau

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That game will likely not finish until the early hours of Wednesday morning UK time, meaning Mac Allister will not return to Merseyside until later than originally anticipated and may have limited training time as Liverpool prepare to face United.

With South American qualifying now over and their place at the World Cup long since guaranteed as the dominant table-toppers on their continent, Argentina first face Venezuela in an opening friendly match in Miami on Friday night.

Mac Allister has already experienced fitness issues so far this season in the aftermath of a long-term injury that saw him sidelined for several months and impacted his pre-season, with Slot tending to err on the side of caution with the former Brighton midfielder, particularly after international duty,

Liverpool are already missing first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker for a number of weeks with a hamstring injury sustained in the Champions League defeat by Galatasaray, with summer arrival Giorgi Mamardashvili making his Premier League debut against Chelsea.

New signing Giovanni Leoni faces a year out after undergoing surgery on a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered on debut against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, while all eyes will be on fellow Reds defender Ibrahima Konate’s involvement for France in their World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Iceland after being forced off against Chelsea but still joining up with Les Bleus.

Versatile Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo withdrew from Japan’s squad for Kirin Challenge Cup matches against Paraguay and Brazil due to a knock, but Andy Robertson started for Scotland against Greece on Thursday after being seen limping off the pitch after the final whistle at Stamford Bridge last weekend.