Journalist: Liverpool could be set for double injury boost after international break | OneFootball

Liverpool Confident Over Alexis Mac Allister Recovery Timeline

Alexis Mac Allister has endured a stop-start beginning to his second season at Liverpool, raising understandable concern among supporters who witnessed his consistency throughout last year’s title-winning campaign. However, according to James Pearce of The Athletic, there is no sense of panic inside the club regarding his long-term fitness. Instead, the mood is one of patience and optimism.

In response to reader questions on whether Mac Allister’s health is a lingering issue, Pearce provided welcome clarity. “It’s been a frustrating period for Mac Allister, who is battling to get back to the level he was at for so much of last season. He hasn’t completed 90 minutes for Liverpool since the trip to Leicester City in April,” he explained.

Arne Slot and his staff made the conscious decision to pull Mac Allister out of the final fixtures of last season to protect him from aggravating a muscle problem. “He was carrying a muscle injury towards the end of last season, so Slot left him out of the final two games completely so he could rest,” Pearce confirmed.

Internal Belief in Post-Break Surge

What followed was a slower-than-expected recovery period, one that ultimately disrupted his pre-season entirely. As Pearce detailed, “It took longer than expected to get over it, which then meant he missed a big chunk of pre-season, but I’m not aware of any long-term concerns.”

There is an important comparison being made within Liverpool’s camp. Pearce reports that “Internally, Mac Allister’s situation is viewed as similar to Isak’s, a player who had a heavily disrupted pre-season, which then had a significant impact on match fitness and rhythm. There’s a belief that both Mac Allister and Isak will kick on after this international break.”

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That internal stance should provide reassurance to supporters who have been anxiously awaiting signs of rhythm from one of Liverpool’s most intelligent midfielders. It is worth recalling how long it took some past Liverpool players to regain tempo after prolonged time out. Even top-level athletes rarely return in full flow immediately after enforced downtime.

Crucial Timing Ahead of Manchester United Clash

The upcoming meeting with Manchester United naturally increases scrutiny on availability. With Alisson Becker sidelined until late November and Giovanni Leoni ruled out for the season, Arne Slot already has selection puzzles to solve. Ibrahima Konate, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexander Isak are all being monitored carefully as they edge towards full sharpness. If Mac Allister is able to feature meaningfully, even from the bench, it would be a timely boost.

Patience has been a consistent message from within the squad. One senior source is believed to have remarked privately that Mac Allister is simply “one full match away from reminding everyone how important he is.” That belief feels well placed.

Our View – Anfield Index Analysis

Supporters are naturally anxious when a key figure goes several months without looking fully himself, but this update from James Pearce should settle nerves. Mac Allister is not facing a chronic issue, he is just working through the final stage of a delayed recovery cycle. Liverpool fans have seen this story before with players like Fabinho, who needed steady rhythm before exploding back into form.

What should encourage everyone is how Slot is managing the situation. There is no desperation to rush him, no reckless gamble being taken simply for a short-term boost. That kind of strategic restraint won Liverpool a title last season and it is reassuring to see the same discipline applied now.

If Mac Allister does indeed kick on after the international break, this quiet spell could soon be forgotten entirely. Imagine the lift of seeing him dictate midfield again just as Liverpool enter a crucial run of fixtures. Supporters will be desperate to see him linking with Dominik Szoboszlai and feeding Mohamed Salah once more.

For now, patience is the right stance. If the internal belief is that his breakthrough is imminent, then it might be time for supporters to trust that judgement. Momentum can return very quickly and Mac Allister feels like one spark away from reigniting his influence.