Liverpool will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson for the Merseyside derby on 16 March, with the Brazilian continuing to suffer with a hip injury.
The Reds’ No. 1 sat out the home win over Bournemouth and the FA Cup defeat to Chelsea after picking up the issue, and his absence is set to be extended for a further two games at least.
Jurgen Klopp’s team face Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night in the Champions League round of 16 second leg, which Alisson was already out of, but now the manager has confirmed he’ll also miss the game at Everton next Monday night.
By a quirk of fate, it means Alisson will have missed all three Merseyside derbies this season.
He was suspended for the Anfield Premier League clash, which the Reds won 5-2, while he was rotated out for the FA Cup third round game against Liverpool’s neighbours. Now his injury means Adrian will play for the third time against the blues.
Alisson missed 11 games across all competitions earlier in the season, after suffering a calf muscle injury in the opening league game against Norwich.
There is, however, better news on the injury front for Klopp regarding his outfield options.
Captain Jordan Henderson is back in training and available for the second leg against Atletico, having been out injured since leaving the field in Madrid.
And left-back Andy Robertson is also fit, after missing the weekend win over Bournemouth as a precaution after a slight hamstring strain. Robertson said in the pre-Atletico press conference that he is ready to play after training on Tuesday.
The Reds are 1-0 down from the first leg, but can perhaps take some comfort from knowing Atletico have only kept one clean sheet in the last eight away games – and that one actually came at a neutral venue, in Saudagainst Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.
