Liverpool’s next game is a clash with Bournemouth but the Reds will likely have their upcoming Champions League showdown with Atletico in their mind. Unfortunately, the Merseyside giants will be without one key player for that European game.
That man is none other than Alisson, who in the eyes of many, is the best goalkeeper in world football at the moment. Jurgen Klopp revealed that the Brazilian shot-stopper won’t be available for the second-leg tie against Los Rojiblancos after picking up a muscle injury ahead of that FA Cup clash with Chelsea.
The Premier League leaders traveled to Stamford Bridge for a midweek FA Cup fifth-round clash with Lampard’s side but Alisson did not make the squad, with Adrian starting in goal. Scans were later taken, confirming the extent of the Brazilian’s injury.
“Unfortunately Ali is out,” Klopp said during his pre-match press conference, as per the club’s official website.
“He had a little incident in training before the Chelsea game. We all thought it was nothing and it was clear he would not play anyway, the plan was he was on the bench.
“There, we thought, ‘Come on, we don’t have to take any risks’ so left him out of the squad. [There was a] scan the next day and they found something. So now he is out. We will see - next week [out], for sure, and then we will see.”
Later on in the press conference, the German boss revealed that this muscle issue will unfortunately keep him out of their upcoming round of 16 clash with Atletico. He is also a doubt for the Merseyside Derby that follows that European game.
“No, next week not [available],” said the boss.
“I don’t want to say no [for the Merseyside derby] but I don’t know if he will be available. He is not available for the next week, not for tomorrow and not the next week.
“Then we have to judge the situation new. I would say after the international break he is back 100 per cent, whatever we can get before that we will see.”
This is a huge blow for Liverpool as they will have to pull off a comeback after losing 1-0 in the first leg. While this is not an impossible task – they came back from 3-0 down against Barca last season in the semis – they would prefer to have their best players available and Adrian has been shaky when deputizing for Alisson.
Fortunately, it is not all bad news as Liverpool look to welcome back club captain Jordan Henderson in time for the second leg. The English midfielder has been out since the first leg and his absence has been felt, with the Reds losing three of their last four matches. Naby Keita is also back but Shaqiri is yet to return from the sidelines.
