Liverpool fans were handed a possible scare over the availability of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister just hours before their huge Premier League showdown with Manchester City. Both players are expected to start Sunday's high-profile fixture at Anfield, which is leaders City's first since they were found guilty by an independent commission of all charges related to serious breaches of the Premier League's financial rules over a nine-season period between 2009/10 and 2017/18. City deny any wrongdoing and have appealed against the verdict.
Concerns raised on social media
Mac Allister looks likely to form part of Andoni Iraola's double midfield pivot against City, alongside Ryan Gravenberch, with Szoboszlai potentially pushed further forward as Liverpool are forced to adapt in attack following the injuries sustained by Alexander Isak and Cody Gakpo during the extended three-week international break.
However, concerns over the duo's involvement in the game were raised on social media on Sunday morning, when it was reported - via video footage supplied by journalist Keefe Irwin on X - that neither player had been spotted with the rest of the squad at Liverpool's team hotel. It remained to be seen if they simply arrived at a different time or had alternative arrangements, with goalkeeper Alisson Becker among those seen arriving in the background, though their initial absence was enough to spark concern among supporters.
Mac Allister calms fears
Fears over Mac Allister did look to be quickly calmed by his own subsequent post on his Instagram Stories, in which he posted his usual matchday photo. Liverpool fans will now nervously await an official update on the pair ahead of kick-off on Merseyside at 4:30pm BST, with lineups expected to be announced at 3:15pm.
Manager Iraola has already confirmed that Isak and Gakpo will miss out with respective thigh and ankle issues picked up with their countries, though Jeremy Jacquet is fit to play having trained despite missing France's Nations League win over Belgium on Monday night with a hamstring strain. Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni all remain absent for Liverpool, though Federico Chiesa could make the matchday squad for the first time this season after recovering from a lingering back complaint.
Potential replacements and City news
If either Mac Allister or Szoboszlai were to be absent, it could lead to further opportunities for talented Liverpool youngsters such as Trey Nyoni and Lewis Koumas, who was with the squad on Sunday morning. Erling Haaland will be fit to start for City after he was seen limping and asked to be substituted while in action for Norway last weekend, while Antoine Semenyo has also shaken off a knock that saw him pull out of the Ghana squad.
Nico O'Reilly remains a doubt with the injury that curtailed his England involvement early, while Phil Foden serves the final match of a three-game suspension handed down following his sending off in the Manchester derby last month.
