Liverpool are back in Premier League action this weekend, making the trip to Southampton, and they have received a massive injury boost regarding one player.
After the final international break of the year, the Reds visit St Mary’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon, as they look to at least stay five points clear at the top of the table.
The hope is that Manchester City and Arsenal have dropped points on Saturday, at home to Tottenham and Nottingham Forest respectively, but that may be wishful thinking.
While Arne Slot has had more fortune in the injury department than Jurgen Klopp often did, that’s not to say that he hasn’t still had a number of key players available.
Alisson, Harvey Elliott and Diogo Jota have been the most high-profile absentees for Liverpool, but a positive injury update has now emerged regarding the former.
According to The Liverpool Echo, the Reds have been boosted by the news that Alisson is back in training ahead of the trip to Southampton.
It remains to be seen if the 32-year-old will be deemed fit enough to come straight back into Liverpool’s starting lineup this weekend, but it certainly looks as though he is battling hard to be in the frame.
Our thoughts on Alisson’s return from injury…
This is fantastic news for Liverpool, even though Caoimhin Kelleher has been in superb form in Alisson’s absence, with the Brazilian still arguably unrivalled among the best goalkeepers in the world.
The Reds’ No.1 has been such an influential performer ever since arriving in the summer of 2018, proving to be a colossal presence between the sticks, with Robbie Earle saying of him last year:
“Alisson, by the way, has come up with two or three magnificent saves that many keepers in the league don’t get near to. His form recently; Newcastle away, brilliant save from Almiron; last weekend, brilliant save again. He’s back sharp, on top of his game, as the team were. I was so disappointed for Liverpool.”
It could make sense to start Kelleher against Southampton, in order to give Alisson more time to get fully fit, before returning to Liverpool’s team to face Real Madrid in the Champions League next Wednesday.
