Liverpool will have to cope without one of their most crucial players for the next few weeks. Alisson Becker has suffered a hamstring injury and will be unavailable for selection, both for club and country.
The 32-year-old goalkeeper picked up the injury while trying to close down Victor Osimhen during Liverpool’s Champions League clash against Galatasaray. The attempt left him clutching the back of his thigh, forcing manager Arne Slot to substitute him.
Alisson underwent further medical tests on Thursday, which confirmed he won’t be returning to action anytime soon.
As a result, not only will he miss a number of upcoming matches for Liverpool, but he has also been ruled out of Brazil’s squad for the international break later this month—a significant blow for both teams.
Speaking ahead of the weekend, Slot confirmed Alisson’s absence and that he won’t be joining the national team.
"Alisson won’t be in the squad tomorrow, and he won’t be flying out to join Brazil either. So yes, he’s out for Saturday," Slot told Liverpool Echo.
When asked about a potential timeline for recovery, Slot was cautious. He explained that it all depends on how Alisson responds to treatment and recovery.
"The duration really depends on how quickly he recovers. Saturday is out of the question, he’s not playing for Brazil, and I’d be surprised if he’s back for the first game after the international break," Slot added.
Alisson’s injury has once again raised concerns about his fitness, especially considering this isn’t the first time he’s dealt with hamstring issues during his time at Anfield.
Still, Slot avoided diving into the medical specifics. For him, the priority is recovery, not speculation.
"I'm not a doctor, so I can't say if this is the same situation as before. What matters to me is whether he can play this weekend, and how long he'll be out," Slot said when asked if this was Alisson's third consecutive season with a similar injury.
