In the pre-match press conference ahead of Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League last 16 second-leg showdown versus Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, Jurgen Klopp provided an injury update on Alisson Becker when he said (via The Liverpool Echo),
“Ali will not be ready; that’s for sure. And he won’t be ready for Monday.”
The Brazilian goalie missed out on his team’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth due to a hip injury he suffered in training last week. Now it seems like Jurgen Klopp will have to cope with his star keeper’s absence until after the international break (via The Liverpool Echo).
Alisson’s Incredible Record For Club And Country
The 27-year-old has been playing at a very high level over the past 18 months, which has propelled Liverpool to become a European powerhouse once again. His incredible goal-keeping contributions have helped the Merseyside club secure the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup trophies in the past calendar year. Alisson will now be looking forward to winning a Premier League winner’s medal once he returns from his injury later this month.
The Brazil international has played in 28 matches for the Merseyside giants this term, conceding 17 goals while earning 14 clean sheets in all competitions. He has also bagged 16 clean sheets in 44 appearances for the Brazilian national side, which goes to show how influential he has been both for club and country thus far.
What Does The South American Sensation Bring To The Table?
Alisson is currently playing at the top of his game, but he has missed his fair share of matches this season due to injury. He is a reliable keeper who can pull off some world-class saves at the back using his quick reflexes and football intelligence. The Brazilian is also an exceptional distributor of the ball both with his hands and his feet. He boasts a pass success rate of 84.2% in the English top-flight this term (stats via whoscored) which highlights how accurate he has been with his ball-distribution.
What Should Be Klopp’s Play?
There is no doubt that Liverpool will miss him in the Merseyside derby as he is an excellent shot-stopper. Even though Adrian always has a bad game in him, he has been a worthy deputy to Alisson so far this season. Klopp could also choose to start Caoimhín Kelleher in the derby after the youngster impressed with his performances in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.
Alisson Won’t Be Available For The Merseyside Derby: Huge Blow For Liverpool?
The European champions are just two wins away from securing their first league title since the 1989-90 season. However, Klopp’s men have already been knocked out of the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup which means that if Atletico manages to get a result at Anfield in midweek, then Liverpool will face elimination from the Champions League. The Reds might end up having nothing to play for in terms of silverware heading into the business end of this campaign.
Either way, the Brazilian goalie missing out the clash versus the Toffees won’t be a big blow for the Reds as they have enough matches left in the Premier League to overcome any setbacks during Alisson’s absence.
