ARNE SLOT has issued a frustrating injury update ahead of Liverpool’s match against Chelsea on Saturday.
The boss addressed concerns over goalkeeper Alisson and forward Hugo Ekitike, who were both forced off the pitch through injury in Tuesday night’s loss to Galatasaray.
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He confirmed that Alisson will not be available for their Premier League fixture this weekend, but suggested that the precise extent of his injury is unknown.
He said: “It is never a positive sign when a player has to go off like this.
“When my player is on the floor I nine out of 10 times fear the worst
“And with the worst I mean that he cannot continue, and that is what happened with Alisson.
“Then normally, he will not be able to play Saturday, that’s 99.9 per cent.
“I have already said 100 per cent, but let’s make it 99.9.”
Alisson’s injury may have opened the door for Georgian backup keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili to make his Premier League debut.
The towering stopped joined from Valencia in summer, but has only been deployed once so far, in Liverpool‘s 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton.
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The outlook for striker Ekitike was less clear, with the striker apparently injuring himself while stretching for the ball.
Slot refused to place a timeline on the Frenchman’s return.
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“He said he couldn’t continue, so we had to take him off, let’s see how he is for the weekend.”
Ekitike has been in electric league form this season, taking three goals and one assist from his opening five games.
Their upcoming opponents Chelsea have their own injury troubles, with star attacker Cole Palmer remaining sidelined with a groin injury.
The Reds will be desperate to regain the momentum that got them to their current spot at the top of the league, having lost their last two matches in all competitions.
