Jürgen Klopp gives Alexis Mac Allister injury update: will he play for Liverpool against Newcastle?

Arsenal’s defeat at home to West Ham United on Thursday means Liverpool are now in pole position in the Premier League following their comfortable win over Burnley 48 hours earlier. Jürgen Klopp’s side hold a two-point lead at the summit and although The Gunners could temporarily displace them if they beat Fulham on Sunday, The Reds will be confident of starting 2024 on the right foot against out-of-form Newcastle United the following day.

Liverpool’s move into first spot has come despite them surrendering their 100% winning record at Anfield courtesy of back-to-back draws against Manchester United and Mikel Arteta’s team. Arsenal, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur have all dropped a number of points in recent weeks and the Merseysiders are the ones who have taken advantage, despite an injury to key midfielder Alexis Mac Allister.

What injury does Alexis Mac Allister have?

Since moving to the north west of England from Brighton, the Argentine World-Cup winner started every Premier League game when fit this season, although Klopp hasn’t been able to call upon him since 2-0 win away to Sheffield United on 6 December.

Mac Allister had to be taken off just before the hour mark at Bramall Lane, suffering a deep cut on his right leg which has proved worse than was first thought. Klopp revealed an opposition player had “stepped on his knee and the stud went through pretty much the muscle onto the bone”, an injury he had never seen before.

Klopp refuses to rule Mac Allister out of Newcastle clash

The 25-year-old has missed The Reds’ last six matches in all competitions but appears to be in with a chance of featuring against Newcastle on Monday, although Klopp wasn’t giving too much away in his pre-match press conference on Friday.

“Macca, we will see what he can do today – if he can step into team training or not.

“The decision is not done yet, it’s pretty early and the Doc is not here; or maybe he is here but I didn’t see him yet. So, we will see.”

Robertson, Thiago and Bajcetic still injured

The German confirmed left-back Andy Robertson was still some way away from making his first-team return following shoulder surgery, while Spanish duo Thiago Alcántara and Stefan Bajcetic are edging close to their returns but are unlikely to be play for another few weeks.