Alisson Becker is “very close” to returning to training ahead of Liverpool’s Premier League trip to Manchester United.
The goalkeeper has been sidelined since March 18 due to injury.
Giving an update on Alisson’s condition at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, head coach Arne Slot said: “For us it’s a bonus every player that comes back because now if you add Mo [Salah] to the injury list, it’s getting longer and longer, but that’s been throughout the whole season.
“Ali hasn’t trained with us yet. [He is] very close to training with us, I have to hear today from the medical staff if he is able to train today or either tomorrow or otherwise the start of next week.
“He is very close but of course, also we don’t want to take any risks, because that’s never what you do with a player and that’s also not what we do now.”
Arne Slot was asked whether it would be difficult for Alisson to return straight to the starting XI if he resumes training before Sunday’s game.
“I think there’s a difference between a goalkeeper and a player,” he replied. “If a player hasn’t trained for a few weeks, players need to run much more than goalkeepers do.
“I don’t think the issue with a player is when he’s out for four or five weeks that he forgot to know how to play football, it’s usually that the fitness levels are not at the levels to play at this intensity that the Premier League is asking.
“So, there’s a difference between a goalkeeper and an outfield player.”
Arne Slot also revealed that left-back Milos Kerkez is dealing with a minor issue but is expected to be available for the clash against Manchester United.
“Milos has had some niggles, left the training pitch not yesterday but the day before,” said the boss. “But I expect him to either train today or tomorrow.”
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