Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been ruled out of Saturday’s game at Chelsea, live on Sky Sports, head coach Arne Slot has confirmed.
The Brazil international limped off during Liverpool’s 1-0 Champions League defeat at Galatasaray on Tuesday night, with summer signing Giorgi Mamardashvili replacing him for the final 46 minutes as the Reds fell to a second defeat in four days.
“It’s never positive if you go off like this. [Alisson] is definitely not going to play on Saturday,” head coach Arne Slot told Amazon Prime.
In his press conference, he added: “When he sprinted back, he felt something. I cannot tell you [what] because I’m not a physio.
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot was left disappointed after his side suffered a 0-1 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League.
“But normally when a player sprints back, feels something and goes to the floor – which is what they [Galatasaray] by the way did 112 times, getting injured and coming back on the pitch without any pain.
“Our players don’t do this. When my player is on the floor, nine out of 10 times I fear the worst.
“And with the worst, he cannot continue and that’s what happened with Alisson. Normally he will not be able to play Saturday. That’s 99.9 per cent, but I think it’s 100 per cent.”
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Ekitike also injured – ‘Let’s see how he is’
Fresh from sitting out Saturday’s defeat at Crystal Palace through suspension, striker Hugo Ekitike was also forced off by injury during the second period on a tough night for the Reds, who had previously won their opening six games of the season in all competitions – though the French forward may yet feature at Stamford Bridge.
“Let’s see how he is for the weekend,” said Slot. “He felt something when he had to reach for the ball. After the game, that’s always the difficult thing with these moments.
“Sometimes you feel it’s not too bad. But when you walk around, it’s something different or have to sprint and have to take a shot on target. He said he couldn’t continue so we had to take him off.”
Hugo Ekitike also required treatment before being substituted
The defeat marks only the second time Liverpool have lost back-to-back games under Slot, following on from their Champions League exit to PSG and the Carabao Cup final in March last season.
“We’re not so far off last season,” insisted the Reds boss. “We’ve lost twice in a row but the schedule can bring this. Galatasaray away is not an easy game, and we play Chelsea so it’s not an easy run.”
Slot complains about penalty, added time and timewasting
Slot did not agree that Galatasaray’s penalty – scored by Victor Osimhen – was only a “20 per cent penalty” as Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz made a meal out of it.
The winger went down under pressure from Dominik Szoboszlai, who appeared to catch Yilmaz on the face with his arm.
“Dominik [Szoboszlai] did nothing wrong,” said Slot. “We are a bit outsmarted in situations like this – they made a 20 per cent penalty a 100 per cent penalty.”
Speaking about the incident, defender Ibrahima Konate said: “A big frustration, because we lost 1-0 because of a penalty and I’m not sure it’s a penalty.
“But it’s part of football we have to keep that in our mind and focus on the rest of the season.”
Slot also complained about Galatasaray’s timewasting, saying: “In the second half, there wasn’t a lot of playing time. Their striker was on the floor, substitutes, injuries. The referee blew his whistle exactly after eight minutes.”
Liverpool’s issues in full
Liverpool’s Alexander Isak looks frustrated during the defeat to Galatasaray
- The best ability is availability – and Liverpool now could be stretched in terms of numbers. Alisson limping off and missing the Chelsea game is a big worry having been crucial in Liverpool’s slender victories not just at the start of this season, but also in their Premier League title campaign last season.
- Liverpool felt Hugo Ekitike‘s absence in the loss at Crystal Palace at the weekend and him limping off is another big blow, especially with Alexander Isak not 100 per cent fresh and with just one goal in five games.
- With both injuries, Chelsea away at the weekend looks harder – even given Enzo Maresca’s side own problems.
- Liverpool look vulnerable at the back. Ibrahima Konate put in another poor performance in Turkey, with his ‘hospital’ pass to Ryan Gravenberch nearly giving Galatasaray a second. He and the other Liverpool defenders could not deal with Victor Osimhen.
- Liverpool also have some issues at right-back. Dominik Szoboszlai was exposed by Galatasaray’s Baris Alper Yilmaz, who conceded the penalty. Jeremie Frimpong was criticised by Arne Slot for the late loss at Crystal Palace and was used as a winger in Turkey. Is it now time to give Conor Bradley a go?
- What is going on with Mohamed Salah? He looks a long way from the player he was last season, even with last term’s high standards. His minutes have not needed to be managed before – he last started on the bench of a Champions League game three years ago. If his minutes need to be managed, it is not a great sign. If he was dropped for poor performances, it is even worse.
- Florian Wirtz still goes without a goal or an assist in the Premier League and the Champions League. Barring runs-off-the-ball statistics, his £100m fee is becoming hard to justify.
- Liverpool’s luck seems to have run out. It has been two games in a row now where the late drama has not fallen their way, even with VAR. Are they regressing to the mean?
- One positive? They are still top of the Premier League. But how long for?
Watch Chelsea vs Liverpool live on Sky Sports Premier League from 5pm on Saturday, kick-off 5.30pm.