Liverpool are bracing for the absence of Alisson Becker until late November after scans confirmed the goalkeeper has suffered a hamstring injury.
The Brazil international will miss key upcoming fixtures, including matches against Chelsea at Anfield, Arsenal away, and a crucial Champions League clash with Bayer Leverkusen.
The scans revealed a hamstring tear, ruling Alisson out until at least the other side of the November international break.
This news marks a significant setback for head coach Arne Slot, who has now experienced his first major injury blow since taking charge in June.
Alisson, who has been managing the injury for several weeks, is believed to have aggravated the issue during Liverpool’s Champions League match against AC Milan last month.
He had returned to the side after missing games against Bournemouth in the Premier League and West Ham United in the Carabao Cup, but was forced off during Saturday’s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
With regular understudy Caoimhin Kelleher unavailable due to illness, Alisson was replaced by Vitezslav Jaros, who made his senior debut for the club.
The Czech goalkeeper kept a clean sheet, helping Liverpool maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Although Alisson tried to reassure reporters with a thumbs-up gesture as he left Selhurst Park, he was visibly in pain and now faces time on the sidelines, missing Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Peru.
Over the weekend, further scans confirmed the seriousness of the injury, which is expected to sideline the Brazilian shot-stopper for at least six weeks.
As a result, Kelleher will likely be called upon again, having made 26 appearances in all competitions last season, including 10 in the Premier League, while Alisson dealt with previous fitness issues.
“Unfortunately, Alisson will not be with us in those matches (against Chelsea and Arsenal), I assume, if I saw how he walked off the pitch,” Slot said to TNT Sport on Saturday.
“It’s true that the fixtures are difficult, but I’ve also felt how difficult Wolves away and Crystal Palace away are.
“We will probably not be as dominant as we were today.
“We face Arsenal away, but both fixtures are really difficult and it’s good that we’ve won these games.
“Now it’s up to us to show ourselves in the big games.”
In the post-match press conference, Slot added: “We don’t know definitely what happened but we do if you walk off like he does that normally means he’s not in the Brazil squad and I don’t expect him to be in the team in the first game we play afterwards (at home to Chelsea on October 20).
“It’s going to take a few weeks, I assume.
“I think it is his hamstring.
“Alisson is our clear No.1 and is the best goalkeeper in the world. It’s always a blow when he gets injured, not only for himself but also for us as a team.
“The positive thing for the team, not only in the goalkeeper position but also in almost every position, is that we also have a second option that’s really good. Caoimh has already shown this season that he’s quite clearly the number two goalkeeper. He did really well.”
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