In a setback for Liverpool, Alexis Mac Allister has been ruled out of the upcoming clash against Manchester United, and manager Jurgen Klopp reveals unprecedented concerns about the Argentine midfielder’s knee injury.

Mac Allister sustained a deep cut on his knee during last week’s 2-0 victory over Sheffield United, forcing him to exit the game after 59 minutes. This injury sidelined him for the subsequent 2-1 triumph against Crystal Palace, and he is also absent from the squad traveling to Belgium for Thursday’s final Europa League group stage match against Union Saint-Gilloise.

In a surprising turn of events, Klopp, a seasoned manager, expresses uncertainty about the timeline for Mac Allister’s return to the pitch. The 2022 World Cup winner’s absence is particularly noteworthy, given his contribution since his £55 million move from Brighton in the summer. In 18 appearances across all competitions, Mac Allister has contributed with one goal and two assists.

While the injury initially didn’t appear severe, Klopp’s remarks reveal a unique and puzzling nature to Mac Allister’s knee issue, leaving Liverpool fans anxious about the midfielder’s return.

Speaking in his press conference on Wednesday, the German said: “I am obviously not a doctor but they explain it to me pretty much every day why he is not ready yet and it is obviously a bit more tricky than we thought in the first moment.

“The other boy stepped on his knee and the stud went through pretty much the muscle onto the bone.

“And now we have to wait until the bone is healed and until Macca can deal with the pain, because it is pretty painful.

“Macca is actually a super-tough guy so we have probably to make sure just from an infection point of view nothing happens. That’s really important.

“I never had this injury for one of my players before but now we have it.

“I hope it will not take that long, I would like to say it’s day by day – but that would look like he could maybe play the next game but he will not be ready for that as well.

“So, I hope the next three or four days he makes big steps and then we will see.”

As Liverpool gears up for a crucial showdown against rivals Manchester United, the absence of Alexis Mac Allister poses a significant challenge, leaving Wataru Endo as the sole defensive midfielder for Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

Endo could find himself in a pivotal role alongside Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch in the Merseyside midfield, especially with injuries hampering the Red Devils’ lineup.

Manchester United faces a string of setbacks, with star player Bruno Fernandes suspended for the upcoming match. Additionally, key figures Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw picked up knocks in Tuesday’s defeat to Bayern Munich, further compounding the challenges for manager Erik ten Hag.

The defensive concerns continue for United, as Victor Lindelof is doubtful to face Liverpool. The Red Devils are grappling with a lengthy injury list that includes the likes of Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, and Tyrell Malacia.

As both teams prepare for this critical fixture, the absence of key players and the reshuffling of lineups add an extra layer of intrigue to the highly anticipated clash between Liverpool and an injury-hit Manchester United side.