Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s first-choice goalkeeper, is in doubt to play in the Premier League match against Bournemouth on Saturday, September 21, due to a muscle issue. The Brazilian goalkeeper has played in all four of Liverpool's league games this season, and he was also in goal for their 3-1 win against AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.
This will be a huge blow for Liverpool if Alisson Becker is unable to recover in time, but they have a good backup keeper, Caoimhin Kelleher. He is most likely to step in if Alisson does not recover on time. Kelleher also filled in for Becker during his injury last season, becoming a dependable option for Liverpool.
Arne Slot reveals Alisson Becker has slight issue with one of his muscles
Manager Arne Slot revealed that Alisson Becker had been dealing with the injury even before the Milan match, but it got worse afterward. “Alisson is still a doubt for Saturday. He has a slight issue with one of his muscles, and we’re unsure if he can train on Friday. If he can’t, he’ll likely miss the game,” Slot said during a press conference.
Liverpool is now entering the busy phase of the season, with seven matches scheduled over just 22 days. However, Slot emphasized that the team is prepared for the challenges ahead and will manage the squad accordingly.
Alisson Becket spoke about the increased workload for players due to the expansion of the Champions League. He said "What we want is to give our best for the football. If you are tired you cannot compete at a high level, I want to give my best in all the games I play but we need a solution. It does not look like we are close to a good solution for football's sake and players' sake. We are thinking about what's to come, we are aware of the fact it's a long season. The main difference with the Premier League to Europe is we have to play at Christmas and New Year. We need a lot of players and we take that into account when making a line-up."