Arne Slot delivered a major Alisson Becker update ahead of Liverpool’s season-defining double-header against Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain but the goalkeeper has been quick to offer his own take.
Speaking at his Friday press conference, the Reds head coach confirmed his number one will be sidelined for both the Premier League title showdown and the crucial Champions League clash.
However, in a move that has sparked immediate debate among the fanbase, Alisson took to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after to ‘clarify’ his situation, potentially casting a different light on his recovery timeline.
Alisson has been Liverpool’s No 1 for eight years since he moved from Serie A outfit, AS Roma. He has earned recognition as one of, if not the greatest, Premier League goalkeeper of all time. However, there have been questions over his fitness during his time in England.
He picked up his latest injury ahead of their 2-1 defeat against Brighton Hove Albion prior to the international break, and the Dutchman confirmed he will miss games against PSG and Manchester City.
A few hours later though the Brazilian international took to social media to clarify the situation around his injury. He hasn’t picked up a new injury, and the plan is for him to be back by the end of the month.
“I didn’t suffer a new injury. I’m in the treatment phase, and the plan is to be in full playing condition by the end of April,” he wrote.
Alisson missed the Champions League trip to Galatasaray on March 10 due to a hamstring injury, but returned to play in the draw with Tottenham five days later and the second leg of the Galatasaray encounter.
Summer signing Giorgi Mamardashvili will be between the sticks while the 33-year-old is sidelined, as the Georgian hopes to make a big impact.
The Brazilian’s absence is set to extend beyond the heavyweight clashes, with the goalkeeper now expected to miss a crucial run of Premier League fixtures against Fulham, Everton, and potentially Crystal Palace as April draws to a close.
The 33-year-old expects to be fit by the end of April. Means he should be back for the final four PL matches, including games v Man United and Chelsea. CL semi-final dates are April 28/29 & May 5/6.
While Arne Slot manages the immediate fallout, the recurring nature of Alisson’s fitness issues is once again under the microscope.
The No.1 has now been sidelined a staggering 11 times in the last three years alone a record that includes an eight-match layoff with a hamstring problem earlier this term.
For a player so vital to Liverpool’s silverware hopes, the mounting injury history is becoming a concern that the recruitment team simply cannot ignore.
Alisson’s injuries continue
The biggest problem supporters have had with Alisson during his time on Merseyside has been his fitness problems, not his performances.
He’s been a reliable keeper over the years, who has played his role in ensuring success under Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot.
However, since he suffered a calf injury on the opening day of the 2019/20 campaign against Norwich City, these problems have continued to develop.
Earlier this season, he picked up a hamstring injury in October, which saw him miss six weeks of action, and he had another issue prior to the game against Fabian Hurzeler’s side as he missed the first leg of their Last 16 clash against Galatasaray.
Missing the games against Pep Guardiola’s side in the FA Cup and the matchup against the current Champions League holders is damning to Liverpool’s chances of progressing in either competition, despite Mamardashvili’s quality.
The fixture against PSG will be increasingly significant as his heroics at the Parc des Princes last season gave the Anfield outfit a fighting chance in the tie.
The Liverpool boss confirmed in his press conference ahead of Saturday’s game in the FA Cup that the Brazilian ‘will be out for a bit longer.’
By the time he is match fit again, the season could effectively be over for the Reds, being knocked out of both competitions, and having the league to solely focus on as they look to claim a Champions League spot.
However, he could also return at a vital time, as the semi-final of both the FA Cup and Champions League commence towards the end of the month, with his addition back to the squad being a possible turning point.
Liverpool’s issues in between the sticks
Alisson has likely entered the final phase of his career on Merseyside. His contract was extended by one year, as his contract expires next year, and with previous interest from Saudi Arabia, next season could be the Brazilian’s last as a Liverpool player.
However, when he leaves Anfield, it will be a massive void to fill with Mamardashvili likely to be the successor, which makes this a great time to prove his credentials.
While the 25-year-old has shown glimpses of what he’s capable of, it hasn’t been enough at this stage to impress every supporter.
The Georgian shot stopper has only two clean sheets to his name since moving to Merseyside. One in the Champions League against Real Madrid and the other in the Premier League against Aston Villa.
While the Anfield outfit’s defence has been far from perfect this season, with several costly errors, the 25-year-old hasn’t filled people with complete confidence, despite a great display against Galatasaray in March.
This is the perfect opportunity for Mamardashvili to showcase what he can do during this period while Alisson is out.
At the business end of the season, it means everything is to play for, with the chance for anyone to make themselves a hero.
With one year likely left at Anfield, discussions will be ramping up regarding Alisson’s replacement, and while he’s got the chance, he has to be Liverpool’s hero over the next month as they look to salvage anything from this substandard campaign.
