Liverpool manager Arne Slot has revealed that Alisson Becker is a doubt for the Reds' Premier League clash with Bournemouth on Saturday due to a muscle injury.
The Brazil international has played the full 90 in each of Liverpool's five games so far in the 2024-25 season, helping the Reds to a 3-1 victory over AC Milan in Tuesday's Champions League opener.
Alisson did not appear to be suffering from any issue in that game, where his opposite number - Rossoneri number one Mike Maignan - had to come off early in the second half with his own injury.
However, speaking to the media in Friday morning's pre-game press conference, Slot announced that the 31-year-old had tweaked a muscle before the trip to San Siro and exacerbated the problem in the win over Milan.
Alisson was unable to train on Thursday and will be monitored ahead of the meeting with the Cherries, but Slot has conceded that he will likely miss out alongside foot fracture victim Harvey Elliott if he cannot train on Friday.
Alisson's Liverpool injury woes continue
"Alisson is still a doubt if he can train today, so let's wait [to see] if he can train. Then, if he can't then he will probably not play as well, so we have to wait and see," Slot told reporters.
"He has a slight issue with one of his muscles and we wonder if this game tomorrow is coming too early or not. I think he did not take it from the Milan game, it happened a bit before, but after the Milan game he felt more and more.
"Now we have to wait see if he is ready to be in goal tomorrow, or we have to wait a few more extra days. Apart from Harvey Elliott, [there are no other injuries]."
Alisson has been a semi-frequent occupant of the Liverpool treatment room since joining the Reds in 2018, missing a total of 48 matches for club and country through injury or illness over the past six years.
The 31-year-old missed almost two months with a hamstring problem from February to April last year, prior to which he also needed two weeks off to recover from a muscular concern just before Christmas.
Caoimhin Kelleher's time to shine after game time comments?
The timing of Alisson's injury could hardly be more ironic, as earlier this month, Liverpool number two Caoimhin Kelleher openly admitted his frustrations at playing second fiddle to the Brazilian for so long.
The Republic of Ireland international was hopeful of a transfer elsewhere in the summer to become a number one elsewhere, but Liverpool appeared to price him out of a move by demanding between £25m and £30m for their number two.
Kelleher benefitted from Alisson's lengthy absence in the 2023-24 season to make 10 starts in the Premier League, earning high praise for his one-on-one skills in particular before being dropped back down to the bench upon Alisson's return.
However, with £29m signing Giorgi Mamardashvili not touching down on Merseyside until next summer, Kelleher will still be the first port of call if his superior is out of action, which is always likely given his history of injuries.
Alisson could still make a rapid recovery in time for Saturday, but Kelleher's wish has surely been answered - at least temporarily - and the Irishman simply cannot let this opportunity go to waste if he does guard the posts on Saturday. body check tags ::
