Liverpool take on Manchester United this weekend and could be without their first choice goalkeeper
Alisson Becker could miss the trip to Manchester United (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
Alisson Becker could miss the trip to Manchester United (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
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Arne Slot admits Alisson Becker remains a doubt for Liverpool's blockbusting showdown at Manchester United this weekend.
Alisson has been absent for the last seven games with a hamstring issue that has hampered him for much of the campaign.
With Giorgi Mamardashvili also out recovering from the nasty wound suffered during the derby win at Everton a fortnight ago, Freddie Woodman is again on standby to start having replaced Mamardashvili at Hill Dickinson Stadium and then produced a man-of-the-match outing in the 3-1 home win over Crystal Palace last Saturday.
And Liverpool boss Slot said on Friday morning: "Ali hasn’t trained with us yet. Very close to train with us. I have to hear today from the medical staff to see if he is ready to train today, either tomorrow or the start of next week.
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"He is very close, but also we don’t want to take any risks. That is not what you do with a player and that is not what we do now.
"I think there is a difference between a goalkeeper and (an outfield) player because if a player hasn’t trained in a few weeks... (outfield) players need to run more than goalkeepers do.
"So I don’t think the issue with an (outfield) player when he is out for four or five weeks that he forgot to play football, it’s usually that the fitness levels are not at this intensity to play at the level the Premier League is asking. There is a difference between a goalkeeper and an outfield player.
"For us, it is a bonus every player that comes back because it is getting longer and longer. It has been like that throughout the whole season."
The Reds visit United on Sunday aiming for a fourth successive Premier League victory that would leapfrog them above their bitter North West rivals and put them in a strong position to ensure Champions League qualification after a difficult season.
They will be without Mohamed Salah for the trip down the other end of the East Lancs Road due to the hamstring issue that forced him off against Palace, although it was confirmed this week the Egyptian is expected to play again for Liverpool before departing at the end of the season.
"As we know from Mo, he is always working incredibly hard when he is fit, but also when he is injured to be back as soon as possible," said Slot. "Usually, he is fit sooner than other players than others when he has a minor injury - so we expect him back for the final part of the season, but not for Sunday.
"In all ways, it is a big relief that his injury is minor that he is able to play for us and at the World Cup. If there is any time a player deserves to have a big send-off, it is definitely him."
Liverpool will also be without Hugo Ekitike, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leoni, but Milos Kerkez is expected to be involved despite an issue in midweek.
"Milos has had some niggles," said Slot. "He left the training pitch the day before yesterday but I expect him to train either today or tomorrow."