Jürgen Klopp can rely on Alexis Mac Allister in the upcoming Premier League matches after all. Liverpool FC’s protest against the World Cup winner’s red card in the 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth has been upheld
Making his league debut for Liverpool, Mac Allister, a summer signing from Brighton, was sent off by referee Thomas Bramall in the 58th minute for a foul on Ryan Christie in midfield. The Argentine World Cup winner had reacted aghast to the red card, with coach Jürgen Klopp describing it as “harsh” afterwards.
The Reds scored against Bournemouth even when they were outnumbered a little later to make the final score 3:1 through Diogo Jota (62.). However, the automatic three-match ban on Mac Allister, who would have missed out against Newcastle, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton, would have hit LFC reasonably hard given the personnel shortage in the centre of midfield.
They had recently signed Wataru Endo from VfB Stuttgart for the position, where Thiago continues to be out injured due to persistent hip problems, after Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia (now both Chelsea) cancelled, and he made his debut after being sent off on Saturday.
But Mac Allister will not have to watch the game after all. The FA announced that Liverpool had been successful in their protest against the red card. The three-match ban will be lifted because of an “unlawful sending-off”.
So Mac Allister will be in the squad for the Reds’ game against Champions League contenders Newcastle United on Sunday after all. Whether Endo might be in the starting eleven with him then remains to be seen.
