Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is expected to be sidelined for around six weeks due to a hamstring injury, ruling him out of key matches against Chelsea and Arsenal.
The 32-year-old Brazilian international sustained the injury during last weekend’s 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace and was substituted late in the second half.
Reports in the British press suggest tests have confirmed that Alisson is unlikely to return until after next month’s international break.
This would mean his earliest potential comeback could be Liverpool’s away fixture against Southampton on 24 November.
Arne Slot’s Premier League leaders will face Chelsea on 20 October and Arsenal a week later, while their next two Champions League ties are against RB Leipzig and Bayer Leverkusen.
Caoimhin Kelleher, who missed the Palace match due to illness, is expected to step in as Alisson’s replacement, just as he did last season when Alisson was sidelined with a similar hamstring issue.
Speaking after the win over Crystal Palace, Slot anticipated a significant spell out for his first-choice goalkeeper.
“We have to wait and see, but it will be a few weeks before he’s back. I think it’s his hamstring,” he said.
“He’s clearly our number one, the best goalkeeper in the world. It’s always a blow when he’s injured, not just for him but for us as a team.”
Liverpool currently sit on 18 points from seven Premier League matches, one point ahead of defending champions Manchester City and Arsenal.
AFP
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