Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is looking forward to having the opportunity to win his first piece of silverware under Jurgen Klopp after a place in the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea was confirmed on Wednesday evening.
The Argentine World Cup winner followed up on his dominant weekend performance against Bournemouth with another assured display at Craven Cottage as the Reds drew 1-1 with Fulham on the night but progressed 3-2 on aggregate. The result sets up a repeat of the 2022 final when Liverpool eventually beat Chelsea following a mammoth penalty shoot-out after the contest remained goalless through 120 minutes.
Mac Allister was still a Brighton player back then, however, but is now looking forward to trying to win his first trophy with the Merseyside club, which as he explained, was precisely why he moved to Anfield last summer.
Speaking to beIN Sports after the match against Fulham, he said: “It’s a very nice moment that I really wait [for]. Since I joined this club I said that I wanted to win trophies so we will [now] have the opportunity to win the first one. As I’ve always said, every game is important but this one definitely, this final would be a nice moment.”
Liverpool have coping for the past four matches without top scorer Mohamed Salah who has been away with Egypt on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations. But the forward has since returned to Merseyside for intensive treatment on a back and hamstring injury sustained in the group stages of the competition and it is not yet clear when he might return to action.
When asked whether Salah would be ready to face Chelsea on February 25 in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, Mac Allister said: “I hope, because everyone knows how important he is for the team. He’s one of our leaders.
“So I hope he comes back soon and healthy, that’s the most important thing. He’s a very professional guy, a very nice guy. We all want him back as soon as possible and hopefully he will be ready for this game.”
