Liverpool went to Turf Moor full of belief, full of confidence, and full of expectation, but once again they had to dig deep into their fighting spirit to come away with victory. For the reigning Premier League champions, the test was not just about overcoming Burnley’s stubborn defense, it was also about overcoming adversity, tactical challenges, and the physical toll the game placed on key players. Arne Slot’s men delivered, but it came at a price. After the match, attention quickly shifted away from Mohamed Salah’s last-gasp penalty and turned instead to the fitness of Alexis Mac Allister and the surprising decision to substitute Milos Kerkez before half-time. Slot, calm as ever, explained his reasoning, but his words revealed the complexity of his in-game decisions and the balancing act of protecting his players while keeping Liverpool’s title defense on track.
From the very beginning, the game carried tension. Burnley, under the bright lights of Turf Moor, did not allow Liverpool to flow freely. They packed their defense, slowed the tempo, and frustrated the champions. Every Liverpool attack met a wall of claret shirts. Salah, Isak, and Szoboszlai all probed, but chances were scarce. Liverpool controlled possession, but Burnley controlled the space. And in those tense battles, one challenge stood out — Lesley Ugochukwu’s rash tackle on Mac Allister. The Argentine midfielder, who had only recently returned from injury, went down hard, grimacing in pain as the Liverpool medical staff rushed onto the pitch.
The sight was worrying for Liverpool fans. Mac Allister has become central to Arne Slot’s system, dictating tempo, threading passes, and anchoring the midfield. When he limped, Anfield hearts sank, even though they were miles away from Lancashire. Slot made the decision to keep him on until half-time, but his withdrawal at the break raised eyebrows. Many thought it was entirely due to the challenge, but Slot revealed a different story after the match.
He explained that Mac Allister’s substitution was the result of a combination of reasons. Yes, the tackle hurt. Yes, Mac Allister felt the impact. But the bigger picture was his overall fitness. Having missed much of pre-season, the Argentine was not yet fully conditioned to play three intense matches in a week. Slot noted that Mac Allister had played 90 minutes for Argentina recently and had visibly tired after 70. Slot, pragmatic and forward-thinking, knew that forcing him to play the full game against Burnley could damage his chances of performing in upcoming fixtures.
This wasn’t just about Burnley. This was about the long season ahead, the Champions League campaign, the title defense, and Liverpool’s need for balance. Slot said clearly that he had always planned to take Mac Allister off around the 60-minute mark, but circumstances changed. He had already used one substitution in the first half by replacing Kerkez, and he knew his options would be limited later. So he made the bold call to take Mac Allister off at half-time. It was partly tactical, partly precautionary, and partly about planning for the battles still to come.
But why remove Milos Kerkez so early? That was another question fans demanded answers for. The Hungarian full-back had been booked and then caught in a moment of controversy. He cleanly won the ball in one challenge, but the referee still whistled for a foul. Burnley’s players surrounded the referee, the crowd roared, and suddenly the atmosphere shifted. Slot, observing calmly from the touchline, realized the danger. Kerkez was walking a tightrope. In such hostile conditions, one more mistimed challenge could have seen him sent off.