Liverpool‘s injury problems in defence have been exacerbated by the news that first-choice goalkeeper Alisson has suffered a hamstring injury.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Alisson had an issue before Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Speaking to BT Sport, Klopp said: “He told us after the game [against Brighton on Saturday] that he felt in the 60th, 70th minute of the last game his hamstring. [We] did a scan, it’s a little one but enough for today and probably for another week.
“We don’t know exactly, we have to wait but I’ve never heard about a hamstring [that] is only four or five days, so 10 to 14 days I think.”
Klopp took the bold decision to replace Alisson with 22-year-old goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, who made only his fifth start for the club and first in the Champions League, ahead of the vastly more experienced deputy Adrian.
Kelleher vindicated Klopp’s decision to pick him by making a string of big saves to deny the Dutch champions including one from point-blank range to keep out a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar header in the 88th minute.
Given Klopp’s assessment of Alisson’s condition and Kelleher’s own impressive performance, it seems likely that the young Irishman will make his Premier League debut against Wolves at Anfield on Sunday evening.
Which games could Alisson miss?
Judging by Klopp’s comments, Alisson has suffered a low grade hamstring tear or strain given he expects to have him available again within 10 to 14 days.
Klopp wasn’t explicit about whether that timeframe was for Alisson to return to training or to be available for matches.
Assuming Alisson is out of contention for the next two weeks, though, he could miss four games in total, which include three Premier League matches as well as the Champions League dead rubber against FC Midtjylland next Wednesday.
The games Alisson could miss
- Wolves (h) – Sunday 6 December
- FC Midtjylland (a) – Wednesday 9 December
- Fulham (a) – Sunday 13 December
- Tottenham (h) – Wednesday 16 December
If Alisson’s rehabilitation period goes as planned or better, he may be able to face Tottenham in a fortnight’s time. A more realistic first game back could be against Crystal Palace on Saturday 19 December, however.
Although Liverpool coped well without Alisson against Ajax, his injury means that Klopp is without another of his undisputed starters in defence, alongside long-term absentees Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez.
Klopp will also have concerns over Andy Robertson after he had to receive treatment on his left foot during Tuesday’s match, but Trent Alexander-Arnold is closing in on a return following a calf problem.
This is the second time already this season that Alisson has been unavailable through injury as he missed three games in October because of a shoulder issue.
Liverpool won just one of their three matches without him on, beating Ajax 1-0 in Amsterdam, drawing 2-2 against Everton and memorably losing 7-2 to Aston Villa.
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