Arne Slot says Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is expected to miss Saturday’s Premier League fixture Chelsea due to an injury sustained in the 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray. 

Alisson signalled he was injured after making a save from a Victor Osimhen effort during Tuesday’s league phase fixture. Slot confirmed at full time the Brazil international had sustained the problem when he retreated quickly to save the one-on-one chance.

The 32-year-old was replaced by Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 56th minute.

“It’s never positive if you go off like this,” Slot told Prime Sport. “You can be sure he is not playing Saturday.”

Slot elaborated on this in his post-match press conference, saying: “When he sprinted back, he felt something. 

“I cannot tell you because I am not a physician but normally when a player sprints back and feels something and goes to the floor and doesn’t come back to the pitch – which by the way they did 112 times, being injured and coming back on the pitch without any pain – but our players don’t do this.

“So if one of our players is on the floor nine times out of 10 I fear the worst and with the worst I mean he cannot continue and that is what happened with Alisson. 

“He will not be able to play Saturday that (is) 99.9 percent (certain), I have already said 100 per cent.”

Striker Hugo Ekitike also left the field in Istanbul after sustaining an injury, but Slot played down the severity and said he could be fit for Saturday’s trip to Stamford Bridge.

The 23-year-old received treatment after appearing to overstretch trying to control a pass. He was later replaced by Alexis Mac Allister.

The Frenchman is hopeful that it was only cramp rather than a hamstring injury but a scan will be required to confirm that.

“Hugo felt something when he had to reach for the ball when we were trying to force something,” Slot said. 

“After the game, players feel ‘Ah it is not too bad’ but it is different when you have to make a sprint. Let’s see how he is for the weekend.”

Liverpool have had to endure periods without their No. 1 goalkeeper due to injury several times in recent seasons. 

In the 2023-24 and 2024-25 campaigns, he missed significant periods with various hamstring injuries. Last season’s injury left him sidelined for three months.

Mamardashvili, who arrived from Valencia in the summer, is in line to make his Premier League debut against Chelsea in Alisson’s absence. The 25-year-old had made one Carabao Cup appearance for Liverpool before replacing Alisson on Tuesday.

(Photo: Ozan Kose/AFP via Getty Images)