Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has returned to training after missing eight games due to an injury. The Brazil international could feature in their Premier League clash against Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday, November 22.
Alisson made nine appearances across competitions this season before suffering a hamstring injury on September 30. He has been out of action since, but as per The Standard, he has returned to training. He is likely to start against Nottingham Forest as well.
Ahead of their 3-0 defeat against Manchester City before the international break, Liverpool manager Arne Slot had provided an update on Alisson, saying:
"Alisson for sure. And I expect Jeremie (Frimpong) back after the international break as well because we play from November until March! But I don’t expect Jeremie to be fully fit for Forest. But with Alisson, we expect this, yes."
Alisson's return would be a big boost for the Merseysiders, who have lost seven of their last 10 games across competitions, winning the other three. They are eighth in the Premier League standings, eight points behind leaders Arsenal.
In his absence, Giorgi Mamardashvili started between the sticks for Liverpool. He has kept three clean sheets in nine games since arriving from Valencia in the summer.
Former Liverpool goalkeeper on Giorgi Mamardashvili's situation at Anfield
Chris Kirkland joined Liverpool from Coventry City in 2001. However, he made just 46 appearances for them, going on multiple loan spells before joining Wigan Athletic permanently in 2006. In a recent interview with ECHO, Kirkland spoke about understanding Giorgi Mamardashvili's situation, saying:
“It is tough, but you know that when you sign. You want to play, but the goalkeeper, only one can play. The only way you're going to get in if you're number two or three is if the ‘keepers get injured or they have a dramatic loss of form. You know that."
“He's going to get games, there's plenty of games. He’s having a little run now. I don't know how bad Ali is, but it's for him now to give the manager a headache and say, ‘When Ali is back fit, I think it's harsh if you drop me’," he added.
Further highlighting Mamardashvili's competition with Alisson, Kirkland added:
“It's tough because he knows that he's got to perform to have any chance of staying in or to get run in the team, he's got to perform to an exceptional standard. He's still young. It’s difficult for him going from playing to not playing every week, but he knew the situation when he came in. Obviously he would hope to dislodge Ali, but probably deep down he's thinking this might be a little bit of a waiting game until he does get in and then when he does get in, he has got to take it."
Liverpool signed Alisson from AS Roma in 2016 and has kept 129 clean sheets in 307 games for them. He has been a key part of the team that has won two Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League trophy, among other honors.