Arne Slot says Alisson Becker is set to return for Liverpool’s Anfield clash with Nottingham Forest this weekend, writes Jake Reed at the AXA Training Centre.
The Brazilian goalkeeper hasn’t been involved with the side since suffering a hamstring injury during Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray on September 30th.
Alisson’s return for Saturday’s Premier League encounter would provide a major boost ahead of a busy schedule consisting of seven games over the next 22 days.
Slot said: “Alisson trained last week and this week, so he will be able to play tomorrow if things work out well today again.”
However, it wasn’t all good news at the AXA Training Centre with Slot revealing the squad is facing new injury concerns after the international break with Conor Bradley and Florian Wirtz set for spells on the sidelines.
He said: “Conor Bradley isn’t able to play. Florian Wirtz isn’t able to play also, so that is far from ideal.
“Both are muscle issues. I don’t expect Conor to be a part of the upcoming 22 days. Florian maybe shouldn’t have to be that long.”
Bradley’s injury leaves Liverpool with a lack of depth in defence and no real right back to come in with Jeremie Frimpong still ruled out through injury.
The Reds boss said: “Jeremie is already out, Giovanni Leoni too. So, we have at this moment of time five natural defenders available for seven games in 22 days, and I don’t see anyone coming back before that.”
Right back has been a position shared by a number of different players this season including Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones, one of whom is likely to fill in against Forest.
On Szoboszlai at right back, Slot said: “He’s played really well as a fullback, played really well as a midfielder too. Curtis Jones played there last season as well.
“Joe Gomez can play there but he has played only two 90 minutes throughout the whole year. It may be a bit of a risk to play him seven times in 22 days. He missed out on a training session yesterday, but we are expecting him to train today.”
There was victory during the international break for Scotland’s captain Andrew Robertson, who helped his side qualify for the World Cup, the first time since 1998.
After Scotland’s 4-2 win over Denmark to guarantee a place at the World Cup, Robertson became emotional as he remembered his close friend and Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota. The Portuguese international was tragically killed in a car accident with his brother Andre Silva in July this year, and Robertson reflected on how they had both talked of playing at the World Cup next summer.
Jota came off the bench to score an immediate equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Forest last season. Like Robertson, Slot was quick to state how much the player and person are missed.
He said: “Now we play Nottingham Forest, last season we were one nil down at Forest. It only took him (Jota) one minute to score the equaliser.
“Talking about the player that we miss for sure, because this time we haven’t managed to come back as many times as last season after being behind. He definitely played a part in that last season.
“But we also miss him as a person, let that be clear. But his wife and children will miss him so much more, parents by the way as well.”
Slot has so far been unable to beat Forest during his time at Liverpool, losing 1-0 and drawing 1-1 in his previous two games against them.
Forest have since had two changes of manager since their last meeting. Sean Dyche will be the man in charge for their game tomorrow following the dismissals of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou already this season.
The ex-Everton manager has so far overseen a record of two wins, two draws and one loss since replacing Postecoglou last month. Dyche’s recent arrival could make it harder for Slot and has backroom team when trying to analyse Forest ahead of their Anfield visit.
The Dutchman said: “Not one manager is the same as another one. But the playing style of Nuno (Espirito Santo) comes closer to the one of Dyche than Ange Postecoglou.
“So I think it’s probably going to be a similar type of game to what it was the last time we faced them.”
