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Liverpool supporters are growing increasingly concerned about Alexis Mac Allister’s workload as the midfielder prepares to join Argentina for crucial World Cup qualifiers, following a period where fatigue has visibly affected his performances.

The 26-year-old was noticeably leggy during Liverpool’s disappointing 2-1 defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final, where he struggled to make an impact against a physically dominant Magpies midfield.

This performance came after months of relentless action with minimal rest under manager Arne Slot.

Slot’s reluctance to rotate his squad has become a significant talking point among fans and pundits alike.

Ryan Gravenberch, who played less than 2,000 minutes last season, is already on track to exceed 4,000 minutes this campaign?

Mac Allister has found himself in a similar situation.

The concern for Mac Allister now extends beyond club duties.

The Argentina FA has confirmed that Lionel Messi won’t be part of Argentina’s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers due to discomfort.

Without their talisman, manager Lionel Scaloni is likely to lean more heavily on Mac Allister in THEIR crucial matches against Uruguay and Brazil.

It’s not just friendlies either, as both World Cup qualifiers will likely be highly competitive fixtures with the opposition nations no pushovers even for a side like Argentina.

During the previous international break in November 2024, Mac Allister featured prominently in Argentina’s World Cup qualification campaign despite nursing physical discomfort.

The midfielder played 64 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Paraguay and completed the full 90 minutes in a 1-0 win over Peru.

So it’s fair to say that these upcoming fixtures are far from meaningless friendlies – they’re high-stakes World Cup qualifiers that could cement Argentina’s position at the top of the CONMEBOL standings.

The world champions currently hold a five-point lead over second-placed Uruguay in the qualification table.

And without Lionel Messi, it’s also fair to say that manager Lionel Scaloni will rely on Liverpool’s No.10 more than usual – and it would be no surprise to see the 26-year-old play the full 90 in both high-profile clashes.

Mac Allister isn’t the only Liverpool player facing international duty fatigue – the Dutch trio of Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo have high-profile Nations League knockout games against Spain later this month.

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