Liverpool midfielder, Alexis Mac Allister, was helped off the pitch during Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Wolves. However, head coach Arne Slot has ruled out any major injury concerns in his post-match press conference.
Mac Allister was set to be replaced by Trey Nyoni late in Friday’s FA Cup clash at Molineux when he suffered a nasty collision with Wolves forward Hwang Hee-chan. The incident sparked immediate concerns as Hee-chan's trailing leg caught Mac Allister's foot, requiring on-pitch treatment from director of medicine Jonathan Power. Despite this worrying scene, Slot confirmed that it wasn't a significant issue. When asked about Mac Allister's condition after the game, he replied confidently: “I think so, yeah.”
This news comes as a relief for Liverpool fans and team management alike as they prepare for their first-leg Champions League last-16 clash against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening. Florian Wirtz recently made his return from a two-game absence as a late substitute against Wolves. With both Joe Gomez and Jeremie Frimpong now fit and able to start again, Slot has options in every position.
Possible line-up changes
If all goes well, it is likely that Slot will start with Mac Allister alongside Ryan Gravenberch in his usual two-man midfield but could face decisions regarding Florian Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo.
Hugo Ekitike is expected to lead up front in Istanbul while Wirtz might be deployed on the left wing and Szoboszlai could take up his No. 10 role. However, Liverpool are still dealing with long-term injuries to Alexander Isak, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni. The good news is that Isak is nearing a return following a broken leg. Should Liverpool progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, there's a possibility that the Swede could be available for selection against either Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain in that tie.
While injury concerns persist for Liverpool, the team's depth and resilience continue to shine through. With Mac Allister's injury scare ruled out as a major issue, fans can look forward to an exciting Champions League clash against Galatasaray.
