Liverpool will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson Becker for the upcoming match against Chelsea on Sunday, as the Brazilian continues to recover from a hamstring injury sustained earlier this month. In his stead, the Reds will rely on the capable hands of Caoimhin Kelleher, who will make his second Premier League start under manager Arne Slot.
Kelleher, 25, came close to leaving Liverpool during the recent transfer window in search of more regular playing time. The arrival of Georgia international Giorgi Mamardashvili, who is set to join Liverpool from Valencia in 2025, further fueled Kelleher’s desire for a change. However, Alisson’s injury presents a valuable opportunity for Kelleher to showcase his abilities and solidify his place within the squad.
“Alisson is for sure not with us in the upcoming weeks. That’s a blow for him and for us,” Slot acknowledged in his pre-match press conference. “But the good thing is Caoimhin did really well for us in previous years and it shows we have a good replacement.”
Liverpool faces a grueling schedule over the next month, with four encounters against fellow top-six sides. This demanding run of fixtures has already taken its toll on the team, as several players returned from international duty with minor knocks. “Alexis Mac Allister missed one game, Kostas Tsimikas missed out in the first game against England,” Slot elaborated, highlighting the team’s injury concerns. “We’ve got a few issues going on but let’s wait and see where we are after today.”
Despite their strong start to the season, which includes a six-match winning streak across all competitions, Slot cautioned against complacency. “If you only judge your team after a week, that isn’t fair. So it is only fair for you to judge us after this spell of games,” he stated. “The only ones who showed they can do Champions League and Premier League in last two seasons are Manchester City and Arsenal. The best way to judge us is in four weeks.”
Chelsea, currently in fourth place, trail Liverpool by four points with 14 points from seven matches. “Chelsea, like Manchester United, have a lot of great individuals, which we have to try to control,” Slot noted, anticipating a challenging encounter. “Looking forward to a very interesting game on Sunday.”
With Kelleher between the sticks, Liverpool will be hoping to maintain their impressive form and keep pace with the league leaders, while Chelsea will be aiming to close the gap and secure a top-four finish. The stage is set for a captivating clash between two of the Premier League’s giants on Sunday.