Evening Standard
·6 December 2024
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·6 December 2024
The trio are on course to return this month
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa are all close to being ready for action.
The trio have had to watch on from the sidelines of late with the Reds taking control of the Premier League title race as well as maintaining their 100 per cent winning record in the Champions League and reaching the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Jota has been absent since sustaining a rib injury during the 2-1 win over Chelsea in mid-October, whilst Chiesa hasn’t made a Liverpool matchday squad since the 2-1 victory against Wolves at the end of September.
Though, the Italian did get an hour under his belt on Wednesday night as he featured for the Reds’ U21s.
As for Alisson, he’s missed the last seven Premier League games in succession with a hamstring injury he picked up in the win over Crystal Palace before the October international break.
The Brazilian has been back in training for a few weeks now and whilst he’s not expected to displace Caoimhin Kelleher for Saturday’s Merseyside derby away at Everton, Slot has offered a timeline as to when the goalkeeper - as well as Jota and Chiesa - will be available for selection.
“Not ready yet, but he will be ready very soon,” Slot said during his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Close: Alisson Becker isn’t too far from making his return for Liverpool
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
“[The midfield line] is not our main worry at the moment, our main worry is if you look at how close they are all back of [having] playing time, there’s only three injuries left and that’s in our last line.
“With Diogo being close to being back, Federico being close to being back, and the same for Alisson.
“That means only Ibou [Konate], Conor [Bradley] and Kostas [Tsimikas] are a bit further away from playing time.”
Slot will be without Alexis Mac Allister for the short trip to Goodison Park as the Argentine is suspended as a result of picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in the 3-3 draw with Newcastle United in midweek.