Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Alisson is fit to start for the Reds against Girona in the Champions League, with Arne Slot confirming it.
The Brazilian hasn’t featured since going off away to Crystal Palace at the beginning of October, with a hamstring issue keeping him sidelined.
Caoimhin Kelleher has proved to be a superb deputy to Alisson, but his costly error away to Newcastle United last week was a reminder that he is still a step down in quality.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Girona on Tuesday evening [via This Is Anfield], Slot confirmed that his No.1 is available for selection, with a start feeling likely:
“Yes, he is [fit to start]. I think it speaks for itself, if you can play with Alisson – who has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and for the Brazil national team – then it is definitely nice to have him back and available.
“But if you then look at how his replacement did, it’s not going to be easy to do even better. We expect the same, and maybe on margins [Alisson is] a bit better.
“But Caoimh did so well that we can say we have two very good goalkeepers that can do the job for us. “For so many years, Alisson has been outstanding for this club that we are expecting and hoping for him to do the same in the upcoming weeks and months.”
Our thoughts on Alisson’s return for Liverpool…
Having Alisson back in the fold is an enormous boost for Liverpool, which is no slight on Kelleher, who deserves huge praise for the job he has done in his teammate’s absence.
The Brazil international is one of the best goalkeepers of his generation if not all time for that matter, and he is going to be a major presence between the sticks this season, as the Reds look to win as much silverware as possible.
Granted, a little rustiness may be expected from Alisson to begin with, following over two months out of the team, but seeing him back gives Liverpool an even more formidable look to them, marshalling the troops and performing with world-class levels of consistency.
It makes complete sense for him to be thrown straight back in against Girona, and hopefully, he has seen the last of his injury setbacks for this season.
