Liverpool will be without their key goalkeeper, Alisson Becker, until after the November international break due to a hamstring injury. The 33-year-old sustained the injury during the Champions League match against Galatasaray on Tuesday.
Alisson was seen in pain after denying Victor Osimhen an opportunity to score a second goal. According to reports, the hamstring injury will sideline him for approximately six weeks. Liverpool has not yet made an official announcement regarding the injury; however, manager Arne Slot is expected to provide further details during a press conference on Friday morning.
Slot has expressed his concern about Alisson's injury, stating that he fears the worst when a player goes down and cannot continue playing. He is almost certain that Alisson will not be able to play in the game against Chelsea.
Alisson’s absence will force Liverpool to rely on their new signing, Giorgi Mamardashvili. Mamardashvili, who joined Liverpool last summer from Valencia but remained with the Spanish side for the 2024/25 season, made his debut for the Reds in their recent 2-1 Carabao Cup victory against Southampton. He also came on as a substitute in the match against Galatasaray after Alisson's injury. Now, he is expected to take Alisson's place in the starting lineup. Mamardashvili's international experience with Georgia, including a clean sheet in a World Cup qualifying match, provides some reassurance about his abilities.
Alisson is expected to miss eight games. These include Premier League matches against Chelsea, Manchester United, Brentford, Aston Villa, and Manchester City. He is also likely to miss Champions League matches against Eintracht Frankfurt and Real Madrid, as well as a Carabao Cup fourth-round tie with Crystal Palace. The first game after the November international break is at home against Nottingham Forest on November 22.
This injury is a significant blow for Liverpool, as Alisson has been one of their top performers this season. His absence will test the team's defensive strength as they face crucial matches in both domestic and European competitions.
In addition to Alisson's injury, Liverpool is also dealing with other fitness concerns. Hugo Ekitike was forced off during the Galatasaray game due to feeling pain while stretching for the ball. Federico Chiesa was left out of the squad for the Galatasaray match due to a "niggle," and his availability for the Chelsea game is uncertain. Giovanni Leoni is also out with an ACL injury. Jayden Danns is also expected to be out for an extended period due to a hamstring injury he sustained while playing for the Under-21s.
