Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has been ruled out until after the November international break.
The Brazil international, 32, suffered a hamstring injury in last Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace in the Premier League and scan results have since confirmed the worst fears of head coach Arne Slot.
Alisson will miss at least the next seven matches in all competitions, with Caoimhin Kelleher set to deputise.
Kelleher sat out the trip to Selhurst Park due to illness, with third-choice goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros coming off the bench to make his Premier League debut after Alisson was forced off with 11 minutes remaining. However, the Republic of Ireland international has now recovered and is away on international duty.
Alisson is set to miss a crucial stretch of fixtures for Slot’s side, including a home clash against Chelsea, away games at RB Leipzig in the Champions League and Arsenal in the Premier League, a Carabao Cup tie at Brighton, followed by matches at home against Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa.
Whether the game against Southampton at Anfield on November 24 after the next international break is a realistic target for his comeback will depend on how his recovery goes. That clash is followed two huge home matches against Real Madrid in the Champions League and Manchester City in the English top-flight.
It’s a painful setback for Alisson, who missed 10 league matches last season due to muscle problems.
However, it represents another extended opportunity for Kelleher to showcase his talent. He had sought a move this summer but Liverpool turned down interest from Nottingham Forest as they wanted him to stay put as high-quality back-up.
Liverpool agreed a £29million ($37.9m) deal for Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili but the Georgian shot-stopper won’t arrive at Anfield until next summer.
(Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
