soccer

Slot on Alisson availability, 'acceptable' league form and Salah form

Yahoo Sports

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Crystal Palace at Anfield (kick-off 15:00 BST). Here are the key lines from his news conference: In terms of goalkeeper availability, Giorgi Mamardashvili will "definitely not" feature but Alisson is "close to returning". This weekend's fixture might come "too early" for the Brazil international, but Freddie Woodman is a "fully fit" option.

He added: "We signed an experienced third goalkeeper for this very reason. You don't usually need them that much, but there is always a situation where you do. Apart from being a good goalkeeper, he is a very good man, he is very liked in the dressing room and he is always ready to play.

" The club is looking into the muscle injuries Alisson is experiencing and for ways to manage his "training programme and playing schedule" moving forward. Joe Gomez is back in the squad but isn't training with the first-team yet. Instead, the centre-back is "doing exercises with the rehab team on the pitches".

It is hoped he will be back in contention before the end of this season. On Hugo Ekitike's season-ending Achilles injury: "His surgery went well. It was an important step he needed to take.

It will be a long rehab process for him. He is a very explosive player and usually that isn't very helpful when you have this kind of injury, but maybe he will be an exception. " He highlighted Liverpool have been unable to beat Crystal Palace across their three meetings so far this season, adding he has done "a little bit extra" to try to find ways to claim all three points.