Journalist James Pearce reports that Alisson is a doubt for Liverpool’s visit of Tottenham in the Premier League this weekend, but he should train ahead of the game.
The Brazilian missed the Reds’ 1-0 defeat away to Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this week, with Giorgi Mamardashvili doing well in his absence.
Liverpool are always stronger when Alisson is in the team, though, with the 33-year-old now arguably the greatest goalkeeper in the club’s history.
Speaking in his pre-Spurs press conference on Friday, with quotes shared by Pearce, Slot confirmed that the Reds’ No.1’s involvement in Sunday’s game remains up in the air:
“He’s been with the physios until now. Let’s see if he can join the team session today. It’s something I expect but not 100% sure yet. I am hopeful (he will be available).”
How should Liverpool line-up vs. Spurs?
Away from the goalkeeper situation, what about the rest of Liverpool’s starting lineup ahead of the Spurs match on Sunday afternoon?
Jeremie Frimpong could replace Joe Gomez at right-back, in order to give the Reds more attacking thrust from that area, but the rest of the defence feels likely to remain the same.
Andy Robertson did his chances of more minutes no harm in the FA Cup win over Wolves, both scoring and assisting, but Milos Kerkez is still more likely to start.
In midfield, Curtis Jones deserves to play, but he appears to have fallen out of favour with Arne Slot, so Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister could continue in the double pivot, as has been the case for most of the season.
That said, dropping the struggling Mac Allister and playing Dominic Szoboszlai deeper would then allow Florian Wirtz to play in his preferred No.10 role, getting the best out of him in the process.
There is the option of keeping the German on the left wing, though, with Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitike completing the attack, and Cody Gakpo remaining on the substitutes’ bench.
Even Rio Ngumoha has an argument for starting the match, given the struggles of both Salah and Gakpo this season, but that feels unlikely.
Predicted Liverpool XI: Mamardashvili; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Salah, Wirtz, Ekitike.
