Mac Allister Returns to Fitness, Eyes Strong Start to New Season

Tokyo, Japan-Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has expressed delight at returning to full training after an extended injury layoff, as the Reds continue their pre-season preparations in Asia.

The Argentina international missed the final two games of last season and had yet to feature in any pre-season friendlies before rejoining his teammates in Tokyo. Speaking after a training session in the Japanese capital, Mac Allister shared his relief at recovering from a lingering fitness issue.

“It’s been a long and difficult time, being injured is never easy,” he told Liverpoolfc.com. “But now I’m feeling really good. It’s just a matter of building up my fitness again because the rest of the squad already had a full pre-season, so they’re ahead in terms of physical shape. But it’s great to be back out there.”

Mac Allister explained that his injury was not isolated to a single area but rather involved multiple issues that required targeted gym work and structural conditioning.

“It wasn’t just one thing, it was two or three different issues that I was dealing with over the past few months,” he said. “In the end, we found a solution and put in a lot of work in the gym. Now, I feel strong, and that’s what matters most.”

The midfielder is optimistic about being fit for Liverpool’s 2025/26 season opener and is hopeful of featuring in the upcoming Community Shield.

“Hopefully I’ll be ready, that’s the plan,” he said. “I need to continue working on my physical condition and get back to the level the other players are at. But I’m feeling really positive and confident I’ll be ready in time.”

Mac Allister returns to a Liverpool squad that has seen a flurry of new signings this summer, including Hugo Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, and Florian Wirtz, all brought in to strengthen Arne Slot’s side following their Premier League title triumph.

“It’s amazing to see the level of quality the new players have brought,” he said. “They’ve shown their ability in every training session. The energy they’ve added, especially someone like Jeremie, always smiling, is fantastic. We’re really happy with the squad, and I believe this will be a very good season for us.”

Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Asia concludes on Wednesday with a match against Yokohama F. Marinos at the sold-out Nissan Stadium. The tour has already seen the Reds draw massive crowds in Hong Kong and Japan, including 25,000 fans at an open training session and 50,000 at a friendly against AC Milan.

Reflecting on the experience, Mac Allister said, “Not many clubs can come to Asia and draw such passionate support. It’s a reminder of how big this club is. We’re grateful for the love from the fans and looking forward to sharing another great moment with them on Wednesday.”