Alisson Becker injury latest as Liverpool goalkeeper ruled out of massive match

Alisson Becker is not yet ready for a Liverpool return at Southampton on Sunday, Arne Slot has confirmed. And the Reds' head coach also admitted Wednesday's visit from Real Madrid in the Champions League also looks unlikely at this stage for the goalkeeper.

Alisson has been sidelined for the last seven matches after limping out of the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on October 5 with a hamstring issue.

Caoimhin Kelleher has deputised with aplomb during the Brazil international's absence, with Slot's side winning six of those seven matches and drawing 2-2 at Arsenal in a sequence that has taken them top of both the Premier League and the Champions League.

Vitezslav Jaros featured in place of Kelleher for the 3-2 victory at Brighton & Hove Albion on October 30 to set up a Carabao Cup quarter-final at Southampton in December.

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However, after returning to team training earlier this week, Alisson is edging closer to a comeback, but he is not yet ready to play.

Slot provided an update on the condition of the 32-year-old on Friday morning when he spoke to the media at the AXA Centre to preview Sunday's game with the Saints.

"Alisson? We're careful with everyone when it comes to muscle injuries," said the Dutchman, who also provided the fitness latest on captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota, Harvey Elliott and Federico Chiesa.

"He is back in training with goalkeeper coach and not training with the team but that is expected soon. Let's wait and see where he is in terms of match fitness, getting better and better but not ready."

Despite Kelleher's excellent form prior to the international break, Slot stated after the 2-0 victory over Aston Villa that Alisson would instantly be recalled when fit, meaning the Reds head coach will soon have a selection dilemma ahead of a busy period that will see Liverpool play 11 times before January, including against Real Madrid, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur.

But Slot confirmed Alisson, along with Diogo Jota, won't be fit for Wednesday's Champions League home clash with Madrid. He said: "For next week? We'll have to wait and see because the last week is always tricky because it's isolated training and then to group sessions so it is difficult to judge.

"So I cannot say it will one or two or three days. Alisson and Jota, I don't expect them to be fit for that game (against Real Madrid), Trent (Alexander-Arnold) we will see."

Speaking after the 2-0 win over Aston Villa before the international break on November 9, former Feyenoord boss Slot made little secret of the pecking order of his goalkeepers.

"First of all, Alisson needs to become fit and I’ve always been quite clear and that’s always been the position of Alisson that he is, and will be, our first goalkeeper if he is fit," Slot confirmed. “But therefore he first needs to be fit, but Caoimhin has done outstanding last season and this season again as well. But the moment Alisson will be fit he will be our first goalkeeper.”