Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the possibility of losing Alisson Becker to injury ahead of a packed schedule of matches after the 1-1 draw against Manchester City on Saturday.
During the clash between the top two teams in the Premier League, the Brazilian goalkeeper received treatment but managed to finish the game, making four crucial saves as his team secured a late point.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal equalized Erling Haaland’s strike, leaving both teams trailing Arsenal at the top of the table after Arsenal’s thrilling win against Brentford on Saturday night.
Diogo Jota was substituted early in the second half, and Klopp admitted that the extent of the injuries to both Alisson and Jota is yet to be determined.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Klopp said, “It seems like we’ve lost Ali due to a muscle problem, and also Diogo Jota. It’s a big blow. With around 15 upcoming games [until Boxing Day], we need to navigate this period, improve, and strive for more stability. In games like this, we should be more defensively compact.”
Although Alisson has only featured once in Liverpool’s Europa League campaign, it’s anticipated that backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher will step in for Thursday’s Anfield match against LASK.
A potential absence of Jota would intensify the pressure on Klopp’s attacking choices, but Liverpool possesses depth in their squad, with players like Luis Diaz, Ryan Gravenberch, Cody Gakpo, and Harvey Elliott available from the bench on Saturday.
Klopp is already dealing with injuries to key players such as first-choice left-back Andy Robertson, who underwent shoulder surgery, and sidelined midfielders Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic.
Despite failing to secure a win at the Etihad, Liverpool accomplished the feat of becoming the first team to halt Man City from winning a home game since Everton in December 2022, ending Man City’s 23-match winning streak under Pep Guardiola at home.
