Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp admits he is relieved after Alexis Mac Allister’s red card against Bournemouth was overturned on appeal.
Mac Allister was controversially sent off for a mistimed challenge on Ryan Christie last weekend and had faced a three-game suspension, but the Football Association’s Independent Regulatory Commission have since overturned the referee’s decision.
Klopp provided an update on his squad ahead of Sunday’s fixture with Newcastle at St James’ Park and admitted it is a ‘massive relief’ to have Mac Allister available for selection.
“Trent yes, Thiago and Curtis Jones from Monday on and Ibrahima Konate is a doubt,” Klopp told his pre-match press conference when discussing availability for this weekend.
“Playing 40 minutes with 10 men did not help, but that is the situation. Very good news on Alexis Mac Allister, massive [relief]. I was pretty sure it wasn’t a red card, but that does not mean our people were going to be successful.
“The picture were pretty clear it should not of been a red card, harsh tackles should always be punished but it was not a harsh tackle in a situation, it was fast.”
Klopp also gave his view on the debut of Wataru Endo, who came on as a substitute against Bournemouth. The German was pleased with the performance of the Japan international, who could make his first start against Newcastle.
“It is still early days, after one and half day’s, half a session playing in a team with 10 men is really difficult and he did really exceptionally well with that.
“He looks good, he is a good player and I was really happy.
“No it was not expected, we had him on the bench to bring him on later in a slightly different situation.”
