£35m Liverpool star now expected to make his return from injury against Newcastle United on Monday

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Newcastle United take on Liverpool on New Year’s Day as they look to turn their poor form around in 2024.

While they have struggled with injuries all season, it is Newcastle’s opponents who received some positive injury news this week as Alexis Mac Allister looks like he could make his return to the team.

The Times are now reporting that the midfielder, who has been missing since Liverpool’s victory over Sheffield United at the beginning of the month, could be available for selection against Newcastle in the Premier League.

Newcastle’s midfield must be at their best against Newcastle

In one respect Newcastle are fortunate that Joelinton is set to also make his return in Monday’s fixture as the team have been missing that physicality in the midfield in their last couple of defeats.

But they are coming up against a Liverpool team who are in incredible form and have now got one of their key midfielders back in contention to start the game.

Mac Allister, who signed from Brighton in the summer for £35m, has missed the last six Liverpool games but had been playing well under Jurgen Klopp prior to his knee injury.

The Times now claim that the Argentinian is expected to be back ‘around the time’ that Newcastle travel to Merseyside and he has been pictured in the training photos released by the club on Friday.

Newcastle’s midfield will have to be at their absolute defence if they are to come away with any kind of result, though that goes for most of the team.

Mac Allister gives Liverpool something Newcastle are lacking

Newcastle have really struggled as of late and one area in particular that has looked poor is the midfield. Bruno Guimaraes and Lewis Miley have still performed admirably, but there has been something missing from Newcastle’s performances.

What Eddie Howe’s side don’t get enough of is creativity from the midfield, something that Mac Allister will bring back into Liverpool’s side if he plays against the Magpies tomorrow.

It’s something that Newcastle are going to have to address in the summer if not January. They had looked at James Maddison which would have been a huge signing given his form for Tottenham, but it seems Newcastle were never truly in the race.