Liverpool manager Arne Slot is worried that he will be without his first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker after the Brazilian was forced off with an injury in The Reds’ 1-0 win over Crystal Palace. Diogo Jota’s goal was the difference, giving Slot’s side another three points to take them clear at the top of the Premier League table and Slot his ninth win in his first 10 games in charge.
Arne Slot is sweating over the condition of Alisson Becker after the Liverpool goalkeeper was forced off injured against Crystal Palace.
The Brazilian went down during The Reds’ 1-0 win after he had kicked the ball clear with his left foot, clearly uncomfortable after jarring something in his stronger right leg a moment before.
He slammed the turf with his fist in disappointment, and he was replaced by third-choice goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros, the 23-year-old Czech, who made his debut for Liverpool.
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AN HOUR AGO
Slot, who has led Liverpool to nine wins in his first 10 matches in charge, admitted to TNT Sports after the Premier League match that he assumed Alisson would be unavailable for his side’s upcoming fixtures, which include a home encounter with Chelsea, a UEFA Champions League match at RB Leipzig and a visit to Arsenal.
“Unfortunately, Alisson will not be with us in those matches, I assume, if I saw how he walked off the pitch,” Slot said.
“It’s true that the fixtures are difficult, but I’ve also felt how difficult Wolves away and Crystal Palace away are.
“We will probably not be as dominant as we were today. We face Arsenal away, but both fixtures are really difficult and it’s good that we’ve won these games. Now it’s up to us to show ourselves in the big games.”
The Dutch manager was impressed with Jaros’ impact off the bench, after Caoimhin Kelleher, the usual back-up goalkeeper, was ruled out of the trip to Selhurst Park through illness.
“It was also very good to see – with [Kelleher] being sick yesterday – our third goalkeeper put this performance in,” Slot said of Jaros.
“It’s always nice for a team that everyone is involved in the result. He was really good. He had a very good season last season. He won the league and cup when he was in Austria.
“We trust him a lot. He wanted to go again to have playing time, but we said ‘listen, at a club like this, we need a very good third goalkeeper’, and that proved that we are right and for him, it was a nice moment to make his debut for Liverpool.”
Slot also emphasised his ambitions to keep progressing, and build on the excellent start that he has had in the Anfield hotseat.
“Really satisfied with how we’ve started the season, let that be clear,” he said. “But if they only remember me because of this [nine wins from 10], then it hasn’t been the best Liverpool era.
“I’m hoping to do more special things than win nine out of 10. It’s a good start; not only the results, but I liked our performance a lot as well.”
