Liverpool will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker when they host arch-rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, increasing pressure on manager Arne Slot as his team looks to end a run of three straight defeats.
“He won’t play and he won’t play next week either,” Slot told reporters Friday. “Alisson, he is not training. It is very difficult to say (when he will return) because the final phase of rehabilitation can bring positive and negative points.”
Giorgi Mamardashvili replaced Alisson in the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea before the international break.
Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch is “fully fit” after suffering a hamstring strain, while defender Ibrahima Konate is expected to train this Friday after a thigh problem.
Alisson’s absence due to a hamstring injury suffered in the 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray last month comes at a critical time for the Reds, who have struggled to convert performances into points in recent weeks.
Slot acknowledged the slim margins that have defined Liverpool’s recent setbacks but insisted his team must overcome them.
“We played 10 matches in all competitions, we won seven and lost three. The three defeats were by narrow margins,” Slot said.
“But as I always say we must not depend on these margins. The results don’t lie, if you lose three times in a row you have to improve. We are aware of this and we must react.”
Sunday’s clash against rivals United at Anfield promises to be a first-class affair, with both teams wanting a result to stabilize their seasons.
English champions Liverpool are in second place, one point behind Arsenal after seven games, while United are in 10th place but buoyed by a 2-0 home win over Sunderland before the international break.
“I’m looking forward to all the Premier League games, but maybe especially the one against Manchester United because I know how special it is,” the Liverpool manager said.
“We know that it is perhaps the most watched match in the world. It is a match in which we have to give our all because, in my opinion, United have had a better start to the season than the table suggests.”
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
