Liverpool XI vs Manchester United: Predicted lineup, confirmed team news, injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Arne Slot hoping goalkeeper crisis eases as resurgent Reds head to Old Trafford

Liverpool is likely to remain without Alisson Becker for today’s huge trip to Manchester United, with Mohamed Salah definitely out.

First-choice goalkeeper Alisson has not played for the Reds since the 4-0 Champions League last-16 second-leg win over Galatasaray on March 18, missing the last seven matches across all competitions due to a latest hamstring injury.

The Brazilian international returned to the grass last week and was said by Arne Slot to be close to playing against Crystal Palace, though ended up not being involved in the 3-1 victory at Anfield.

When speaking in his pre-United press conference on Friday morning, the Liverpool manager revealed that Alisson had still yet to resume full training.

With usual deputy Giorgi Mamardashvili also sidelined for several weeks having been stretchered off with a nasty knee wound in the last-gasp Merseyside derby win over Everton, third-choice stopper Freddie Woodman made his first Premier League start for Liverpool last weekend, impressing against boyhood club Palace as he made a number of fine saves - including one in the build-up to Andy Robertson’s goal.

Slot would have no issue in starting Woodman - who was backed up by youngster Armin Pecsi - again in a high-profile showdown with arch-rivals United at Old Trafford, though Alisson will surely come straight into the lineup if he can prove his fitness in time.

One player who will definitely miss the game is Salah, who was withdrawn after an hour against Palace due to his own hamstring injury amid fears that he may now have played his final game for Liverpool before he leaves on a free transfer this summer with only four matches left to play this season.

However, the club confirmed on Wednesday that the Egyptian’s issue is only minor and that he is expected to feature again before the end of the campaign.

Return: Liverpool will hope to have Alisson Becker back in goal against Manchester United

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Hugo Ekitike is a long-term absentee and will miss the World Cup after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League earlier this month, while Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are also still unavailable.

Wataru Endo is back in training after an ankle injury that has kept him out since February and, like Salah, he is expected to play again this season. However, his return will not be this weekend.

Curtis Jones has fared well at right-back for Liverpool of late, but Joe Gomez returned off the bench against Palace and could start here, while Jeremie Frimpong is also fit.

Left-back Robertson impressed again with a goal and could keep Milos Kerkez as a substitute, especially with the latter having been dealing with a knock this week. Ibrahima Konate and captain Virgil van Dijk will continue as the central defensive pairing.

Ryan Gravenberch got a rest for 80 minutes in the win over Palace, but should return against United to resume his midfield partnership with Alexis Mac Allister, who got his own breather against Everton.

Salah’s absence could see the versatile Dominik Szoboszlai pushed further forward after a couple of weeks in the engine room, with Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo also supporting lone striker Alexander Isak, who registered his first goal since December last time out having recently returned from a broken leg.

But Slot has plenty of alternative options available to him, including teenage starlet Rio Ngumoha and Federico Chiesa. Frimpong has also played on the right wing for Liverpool this season and replaced Salah against Palace.

Predicted Liverpool XI (4-2-3-1): Woodman; Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Mac Allister; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak