In the pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s clash against Bournemouth at Anfield on Saturday (via liverpoolfc.com), Jurgen Klopp revealed that Alisson Becker is currently out injured when he said, “Unfortunately Ali is out.
“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 for sure and then we will see.”
The German head coach also shed some light on the nature of the Brazilian’s injury when he said (via liverpoolfc.com), “Muscle, slight, in the hip region. A small muscle. You [the reporters] could all do your work still but a professional goalkeeper is slightly different. That’s the situation.”
Klopp also confirmed that the Liverpool man will miss out the Champions League second leg against Atletico Madrid, “No, next week not [available].”
Alisson’s Injury: Huge Blow For The Reds?
This latest development regarding Alisson’s injury will be a bitter pill to swallow for anyone associated with the Merseyside club. Liverpool looked lost without their first-choice keeper at Chelsea earlier this week as Alisson’s deputy, Adrian made a catastrophic error in the first half which ultimately resulted in the Reds getting knocked out of the FA Cup. Hence, the recent results will be quite worrying for Klopp as he looks to inspire his players to bounce back versus the Cherries this weekend.
The Premier League leaders will also have one eye on their crucial UEFA Champions League second-leg clash against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night. Without Alisson in goal, the European champions will have a mountain to climb as they try to overturn the 1-0 deficit from the first leg. Hence, the Brazilian’s absence could have a significant impact on Liverpool’s chances of retaining their Champions League crown this season.
The Brazilian’s Incredible Record At Merseyside This Season
Despite missing several games due to injury, Alisson has a remarkable defensive record for Liverpool this season. The 27-year-old has played in 28 matches for the Reds this term, conceding 17 goals while securing 14 clean sheets in all competitions. He is currently on the driver’s seat to win the Premier League’s golden glove award which goes to show how influential he has been at Anfield over the past 18 months.
The 44-time Brazil international has completed 84.2% of his attempted passes in the English top-flight (stats via whoscored) and is also not shy about coming out of his penalty area to make a last-gasp clearance. He has good football IQ that allows him to read the danger fast and possesses quick reflexes to pull off some crucial saves at the back.
Can Liverpool Cope With Alisson’s Injury Absence?
Adrian is nowhere near the level of Alisson at the moment. However, the Spaniard did a decent job in between the sticks during the early stages of this campaign when Alisson was out with a calf injury. Klopp would now hope that Adrian has what it takes to step up and make a difference during the Brazilian’s absence in the coming days. The 35-year-old has allowed 20 goals in 16 matches for the European Champions this term and has only got three clean sheets to show for his efforts.
Even though Bournemouth might not cause too many problems for the Liverpool defence this weekend, we can expect Atletico Madrid to give Klopp’s side a stern test next week. An away goal from the La Liga outfit would mean that Liverpool will have to score three times to secure progression into the quarterfinals of the Champions League which will be a mammoth task.
