Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson set for extended period out with ‘serious’

Jurgen Klopp admits that Alisson is facing an extended spell on the sidelines with a “rather serious” hamstring injury.

The Brazil goalkeeper was hurt in training on the eve of Liverpool’s trip to Brentford last month having missed the previous game against Burnley due to illness.

It means that Saturday’s Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest will be the sixth successive match in which Caoimhin Kelleher has deputised in goal.

“There is no real timescale on it, but it is a proper muscle injury,” Klopp said.

“It is not a short one. It is a rather serious one, but not a season-ending injury.”

Kelleher, who has eased the blow of losing Alisson with some outstanding recent performances, has already made 17 appearances in all competitions this season.

Liverpool turned down interest in the Republic of Ireland international both last summer and in January with Klopp describing suggestions he could have left for £20million as “nonsense”.

“There were talks with the player before the season, but it never reached a point whereby it was, ‘You have to stay, shut up’. It was just the normal discussion about his future,” Klopp added.

“The most important thing was we had to help him on the next step in his development by playing more games. I saw it the same way as what the player would say. I think now he would be pretty happy with the decision he made in the summer.

“For me there was no chance of him leaving, so I was not interested in who was asking. It would have had to be a proper price to give us a chance of doing something in a difficult market.

“It is not like other goalkeepers moving from A to B for £15 million or £20 million. That is totally unrealistic and nonsense.”

GO DEEPER

Liverpool accounts: £9m loss, wage bill up, commercial revenues and debt rise

(Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)