Liverpool’s Goalkeeper Injury Update
Liverpool’s head coach, Arne Slot, has announced that the team’s number one goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, will be sidelined for their upcoming match against Chelsea due to an injury sustained during their recent 1-0 loss against Galatasaray. Alisson exited the match in the 56th minute and was replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili after seemingly sustaining an injury in Rams Park. Slot confirmed that the Brazilian custodian will not participate in Saturday’s fixture at Stamford Bridge, and further evaluations of his injury are expected in the following days.
Setbacks in Recent Matches
The disappointing encounter in Istanbul was not only marked by Alisson’s injury but also by the Reds losing striker Hugo Ekitike. The forward had to be substituted in the second half after he reported discomfort following an attempt to reach for the ball.
“He felt something when he had to reach for the ball,”
Slot revealed during his post-match press conference. He added,
“After the game, that’s always the difficult thing with these moments when players feel like it is not too bad, but when you just walk around it is something different than when you make a sprint or have to shoot on target. He said he couldn’t continue, so we had to take him off. Let’s see how he is for the weekend.”
Coach’s Reflections on Performance
This setback for Liverpool comes after they lost to Crystal Palace just days ago, marking only the second time Slot has overseen consecutive defeats during his tenure. Slot expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, stating,
“Again, disappointed. For me, this was a different performance on and off the ball [than Crystal Palace]. In the first half, we played quite well and had a big chance to go up 1-0.”
He also addressed the penalty awarded to Galatasaray, stating,
“They make a 20% penalty a 100% penalty, which is very smart from them.”
Looking Ahead to Chelsea
Following last season’s challenges with injuries, Alisson’s absence places a significant strain on Liverpool’s defense as they prepare for Chelsea, a team known for its combativeness and tactical awareness. In previous seasons, Alisson had faced his share of injuries, notably missing over two months last year due to a hamstring issue. With Chelsea next on the agenda, Slot emphasized the need for his squad to bounce back from this disappointing phase, saying,
“The margins are small, and they were last season. For the second time in a row, we are on the wrong side of it. I saw a lot of things in the first half, but the second half was much less. Their striker was on the floor four or five times. It was difficult to get momentum in the game.”
