Liverpool rocked by Alisson injury setback despite Isak and Frimpong boosts | Football | Sport
Arne Slot has suggested that Alisson Becker could remain on the sidelines for some time yet, with Giorgi Mamardashvili poised to stand in against Manchester City and PSG over the next week. The Brazilian goalkeeper withdrew from his country’s squad over the international break and faces another sustained period out of action. The 33-year-old has missed 50 games due to hamstring issue over the last three seasons.
“He will not be part of the PSG game either; he is out for a bit longer,” Slot revealed in his pre-match press conference ahead of the visit to the Etihad Stadium. “Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit.” Elsewhere, Jeremie Frimpong has returned to availability, while Alexander Isak is edging closer to a comeback. Should he feature in the matchday squad this Saturday, it will only be from the bench.
“Jeremie trained with us and seems to be OK, but he was one of the players I referred to at Brighton,” Slot commented. By this, he was alluding to the difficulties they encountered with the swift turnaround following the midweek victory over Galatasaray.
He added on Isak potentially facing City: “It’s a difficult one because we don’t play a ‘normal’ game, it could go to extra time, which makes it difficult if he can only play 10 minutes.
“We can take him off again of course if we have the players but maybe a few minutes tomorrow, but let’s wait and see today how he feels. Two sessions, 100 days out, no sense to start him tomorrow.”
Following the Manchester City and PSG fixtures, Liverpool will then face Fulham in a crucial Anfield encounter that could prove decisive in securing a top-five finish and Champions League qualification.
“Excited,” Slot told club media earlier in the week when quizzed about such a momentous period. “This is what we worked for throughout the season, to be involved in games like this.
“Of course, we probably played the toughest opponents you can face as well in the FA Cup as in the Champions League, but you always know if you end up in the quarter-finals that these are teams you can face.
“It’s exciting for us. I think it’s also for them challenging to play Liverpool. As we know, we played Paris Saint-Germain last season in the Round of 16, now in the quarter-finals and both of these games were a joy to watch.
“I watched them back – both of them – I liked the one at Anfield a little bit more than the one in Paris, although we won in Paris and lost at Anfield.
“But [we’re] really looking forward to it. We’ve shown so many times this season that we can be a very good team.
“Unfortunately, we’ve also shown this season a few times that we look vulnerable, and we have to get the best out of ourselves as we’ve had many times this season.
“But that’s what we need definitely again in the upcoming weeks to do what we want to do and that is to continue our run in both cups and qualify for the Champions League next season.”
