Jurgen Klopp expresses his delight at Alisson Becker’s injury not being too severe
Speaking to Brazilian outlet Esporte Interativo (h/t Mirror), Jurgen Klopp commented that he was happy with the fact that Alisson is only missing a few games after his muscle injury.
Liverpool fans were jolted after learning that Alisson Becker was the latest to succumb to an injury this season. The Brazilian stopper was left out of the matchday squad against Ajax this week.
The Reds took on the Dutch side at Anfield on Tuesday in matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League. Young goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher started in goal ahead of both Alisson and Adrain San Miguel.
Liverpool won the game courtesy of a goal made in the Liverpool academy. Neco Williams’ cross looped over Andre Onana to find an unmarked Curtis Jones at the back post in the 58th minute.
The Reds to face @AFCAjax 👊🔴
Alisson is out as a precaution due to a tight leg muscle.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) December 1, 2020
However, the plaudits after full-time were directed largely towards Liverpool’s third-choice goalkeeper Kelleher, who was solid between the sticks for the Reds. He is tipped to now start the weekend game against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League. (h/t Mirror)
Speaking after the game, Klopp clarified that he was trying to look at the positives from Alisson’s injury rather than dwell too long on the negatives.
“Look, in these times, when somebody tells you it’s two weeks, you start already opening the champagne. So it’s, anyway, four games. So we’ll see, maybe three games, I don’t know. It’ll be… he cannot play at the weekend. That’s how it is. So we have to see what to do then.”
Klopp also clarified the extent of the injury, saying that it was small but enough to sideline the winner of The Best FIFA Goalkeeper in 2019.
“It’s a little, little, little, little, little, little hamstring injury. It’s enough to keep you out. He felt it during the game, it wasn’t that bad, but after the game he mentioned it, we did the scan and we saw it. So he’s out for a little while.”
Liverpool have qualified to the UCL knockout rounds as Group D winners, making the penultimate group match against Midtjylland a dead rubber. However, the Reds have Wolves to face at Anfield on Sunday before they could start planning their trip to Denmark next week.
