Soccer

Liverpool’s Caoimhín Kelleher has chance to impress as Alisson picks up injury

First-choice keeper Alisson will likely miss five games after injuring his hamstring against Man City

Liverpool's Irish goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty
Liverpool's Irish goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher. Photograph: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty
Andy Hunter
Wed Nov 29 2023 - 19:11

Ireland’s Caoimhín Kelleher is set for a run of games as Liverpool’s goalkeeper after manager Jürgen Klopp received news on the fitness of Alisson Becker, whose injury will keep him out for at least two weeks.

Klopp hopes the Brazilian goalkeeper will be fit to face Manchester United on December 17th.

Liverpool feared an extended lay-off for their first-choice keeper after he sustained a hamstring injury late in the 1-1 draw at Manchester City on Saturday. However, scans have shown the damage is not severe and Alisson could be out for just over a fortnight.

With Caoimhín Kelleher the preferred starter for Europa League games, and Liverpool facing Lask on Thursday and Union Saint-Gilloise on December 14th, the 31-year-old is likely to miss Premier League matches against Fulham, Sheffield United and Crystal Palace before returning for United’s visit to Anfield.

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Klopp said: “Both are out [of the Lask game]. With Ali it’s a bit lesser so we have to see – not day by day, he will not play tomorrow, not on Sunday and probably not the week after. Then it should be kind of okay. Diogo will take a little bit longer. We don’t know exactly how long, but it’s a bit more severe.”

Liverpool lost their last Europa League fixture, 3-2 in Toulouse, but will win Group E on Thursday if they defeat the Austrian side and Toulouse do not beat Union SG. Klopp’s team would secure a place in the top two by avoiding defeat against Lask, and the Liverpool manager wants qualification confirmed with a game to spare.

“I didn’t need that,” Klopp said of the defeat in France. “It just made the situation more difficult, that’s how it is. We want to win tomorrow night and we want to win in Belgium as well, but if we don’t win tomorrow the game in Belgium in a super‑intense period will be tough.

“So it’s all about performing tomorrow and really going for it – that’s the idea. To put the opponent under pressure with good pressing and football with top protection and be super-aware around set pieces.

“Toulouse was maybe a one-off performance-wise – it was around Luton which was not too great either – but this was in a very short period of time. Besides that the boys usually perform and that’s what we should concentrate on. In the Europa League it is important whether you are top of the group or second in the group as second goes into a playoff.” – Guardian