Alisson Becker appears to be facing another extended absence from the pitch.
It has been a rough week for Liverpool, who have suffered two straight defeats to end what had been a flawless start to the season.
They were beaten 2-1 by Crystal Palace in the league, before falling 1-0 to Galatasaray in the Champions League. The latter match proved even more costly than just the result.
Alisson had to come off due to injury, an issue that has become all too familiar for Reds supporters.
Arne Slot had already ruled him out of Saturday’s match against Chelsea, and it now appears he will be sidelined even longer.
Alisson faces extended absence, set to miss six weeks for Liverpool
It is always a concern when a goalkeeper needs to come off, especially someone like Alisson dealing with a muscle issue.
Liverpool supporters had reason to worry and, while it is not the worst-case scenario, it is more than just a minor setback. The timing of the international break does at least provide some relief.
David Ornstein of The Athletic reports that Alisson is expected to be out for about six weeks after suffering a hamstring injury, following a scan he underwent on Thursday.
This puts him out of action for key fixtures against Manchester United, Real Madrid and Manchester City.
There has not been an official statement from Liverpool yet, but Slot is likely to address the situation during his pre-match press conference on Friday morning.
Regardless of the injury details, Alisson was already set to miss Brazil’s upcoming friendlies against South Korea and Japan.
His absence will be felt. He has been outstanding for Liverpool this season, making this another major setback in what has already been an eventful week for the club.
Giorgi Mamardashvili set for extended run in Alisson’s absence
It is not unusual for Alisson to miss a few weeks each season, which in the past gave Caoimhin Kelleher some opportunities to step in.
With Kelleher now gone, that responsibility falls to Giorgi Mamardashvili. The Georgian goalkeeper now has a clear run of games ahead of him to make his mark.
Mamardashvili has already had some early involvement this season, playing during pre-season and featuring against Southampton in the Carabao Cup, where he showed reliability between the posts.
The way this season has started, it looks like he will have plenty to do. He will need to be ready from the outset if he wants to hold down the position while Alisson is out.
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