Liverpool are awaiting the results of a scan on Alisson Becker’s hamstring before a timescale will be placed on his recovery. The Brazil international was forced to be withdrawn at Selhurst Park on Saturday lunchtime as the Reds maintained their lead at the top of the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
With usual understudy Caoimhin Kelleher sidelined with an illness for the weekend’s game, Alisson was replaced by Vitezslav Jaros as the Czechia international marked his senior debut for the club with a clean sheet in south London.
Alisson attempted to offer a thumbs up when asked by reporters about his situation as he limped out of Selhurst Park but the former Roma goalkeeper was clearly in pain as he made his way towards the team coach and is now sitting out the international break while Brazil play World Cup qualifiers with Chile and Peru.
The £65m shot-stopper is now a major doubt for Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea at Anfield on October 20 and could even be sidelined further depending on the severity of the issue, which more will be known about in the coming days. Speaking after the game on Saturday, head coach Arne Slot admitted it was a real concern, claiming the No.1 would miss Chelsea’s visit and the trip to Arsenal on October 27.
“Unfortunately, Alisson will not be with us in those matches, I assume, if I saw how he walked off the pitch,” Slot said to TNT Sport. “It’s true that the fixtures are difficult, but I’ve also felt how difficult Wolves away and Crystal Palace away are. We will probably not be as dominant as we were today. We face Arsenal away, but both fixtures are really difficult and it’s good that we’ve won these games. Now it’s up to us to show ourselves in the big games.”
In the press conference, Slot added: “We don’t know definitely what happened but we do if you walk off like he does that normally means he’s not in the Brazil squad and I don’t expect him to be in the team in the first game we play afterwards (at home to Chelsea on October 20). It’s going to take a few weeks, I assume. I think it is his hamstring.
“Alisson is our clear No.1 and is the best goalkeeper in the world. It’s always a blow when he gets injured, not only for himself but also for us as a team. The positive thing for the team, not only in the goalkeeper position but also in almost every position, is that we also have a second option that’s really good. Caoimh has already shown this season that he’s quite clearly the number two goalkeeper. He did really well.”
Alexis Mac Allister, meanwhile, has been permitted to fly out to report for duty with Argentina after being withdrawn with a groin issue at half time of Saturday’s victory, which came courtesy of Diogo Jota’s early goal.
Mac Allister was taken off for Dominik Szoboszlai at half time with Slot later confirming the World Cup winner was substituted as a precaution. The former Brighton star has now flown to Florida to join up with his international colleagues ahead of their World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia. The 25-year-old will be assessed by the Argentina medical team ahead of Thursday’s meeting with Venezuela at Estadio Monumental de Maturin.
On social media on Saturday evening, Mac Allister appeared to confirm the groin issue was a minor one, posting: “Great win for the team today, these are the moments that make us stronger! I felt a slight discomfort during the game, but nothing that will stop me. Now fully focused on what’s ahead.”
Harvey Elliott is continuing to work towards his own individually-tailored fitness programme over the international break as he targets a swift return from a foot fracture. The Reds midfielder suffered the injury in September’s international break while on duty with England’s Under-21s and had been initially hopeful of a return for the clash with Chelsea later this month.
Liverpool’s lack of injuries elsewhere in the midfield department, however, means they are in no rush to get Elliott back on the pitch and will take their time over reintroducing the 21-year-old into the first-team fold at the AXA Training Centre.
