Liverpool’s bubble was burst on Saturday as they went down to a 1-0 loss against Nottingham Forest.
Perfect up until that point of the season, the Reds succumbed to a surprise and incredibly disappointing defeat.
With three wins out of three heading into the game and on home turf at Anfield, there had been little expectation that Liverpool would drop points, let alone lose.
Part of the reason for such confidence had been the excellent performance of Liverpool’s midfield in the opening three matches.
One third of the trio to start each of the opening games, Alexis Mac Allister had been crucial to that. But that changed on Saturday, with Mac Allister hooked after an hour.
Arne Slot explains Alexis Mac Allister change
Mac Allister has slowly grown in influence since his arrival in the summer of 2023. Now one of the first names on the teamsheet, it is a rarity that the 25-year-old does not start.
Given that he is so crucial to the way Liverpool play through the midfield right now, Mac Allister had not missed a minute during the opening three matches of the season.
With the score at 0-0 on Saturday and Liverpool struggling to create anything much of note, the expectation would ordinarily have been that Mac Allister would stay on the pitch.
However, Arne Slot decided to go down a different route, taking off the Argentine for Conor Bradley and shifting Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield.
It was a little bit of a surprise move from the Liverpool head coach and did nothing to help turn the tide of the game. Forest soon went up the other end and got a winner themselves.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s predicted XI vs AC Milan as Arne Slot hands out first start of the season
But, explaining his decision to substitute Mac Allister in his pre-AC Milan press conference, Slot has suggested that he had no regrets. The Dutchman was simply trying to protect his No.10’s fitness.
“I took Mac Allister off around 60 minutes against Forest, that had a lot to do with Argentina and injuries, not playing,” said Slot. “So, that had a bit to do with rotation.
“I think he can play 60 or 90 minutes tomorrow [vs Milan], I will decide. He is an important player for us.”
Will Alexis Mac Allister start vs AC Milan?
There had been massive question marks over Liverpool’s midfield heading into the season.
The failure to sign Martin Zubimendi to supplement what the Reds already have was seen as something that could make or break the season.
That notion was dispelled a little as Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai produced a really promising start to the campaign.
However, with the games now coming every few days, the Reds do look short where rotation is concerened.
With some question marks over his fitness following the international break, Mac Allister should perhaps not have started against Forest. But with limited options for rotation, he did and looks likely to go again in Milan, too. Should he play, it will be Macca’s Champions League debut.
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