Alisson To Miss Chelsea vs Liverpool Champions League Match

Liverpool have been dealt a major blow ahead of their Premier League trip to Chelsea on Saturday, with head coach Arne Slot confirming that first-choice goalkeeper Alisson will not feature at Stamford Bridge.

The Brazilian shot-stopper was forced off during Tuesday night’s 1-0 Champions League loss to Galatasaray, limping out before halftime. Summer signing Giorgi Mamardashvili stepped in for the remainder of the match, but the Reds could not find a response as they slipped to a second defeat in four days.

“It’s never a good sign when a player has to come off like that,” Slot told Amazon Prime. “He’s definitely out for Saturday. When he sprinted back, he felt something, but I can’t give details because I’m not a physio. Normally, if a player goes down like this, it’s serious. Our players don’t roll around unless there’s a real problem. That’s why I’m certain he won’t make it for Chelsea.”

Ekitike Adds to Injury Concerns

Liverpool’s night went from bad to worse when forward Hugo Ekitike was also forced off in the second half. The French striker had just returned from suspension after missing the weekend defeat to Crystal Palace, but now faces a fitness test before Chelsea.

“Let’s see how he recovers,” Slot explained. “He stretched for the ball and felt something. After a match, these things can go either way. Sometimes it’s minor, but when you walk or sprint again, it can get worse. He told us he couldn’t continue, so we had to take him off.”

Despite the setbacks, Slot reminded reporters that Liverpool is still performing at a high level this season. Tuesday’s loss means it is only the second time under his tenure that the team has suffered back-to-back defeats. The previous instance came last season when they were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG before losing the Carabao Cup final.

“We’re not far off from where we want to be,” the Dutch coach insisted. “The schedule can be tough, Galatasaray away is never easy, and now we face Chelsea. These are demanding games.”

Controversy Over Penalty Decision

The only goal of the game came from the penalty spot, converted by Victor Osimhen after Galatasaray winger Baris Alper Yilmaz went down under pressure from Dominik Szoboszlai. Slot was furious with the decision, insisting the contact was minimal.

“In my opinion, Dominik did nothing wrong,” he argued. “We were outsmarted in that situation. What was maybe a 20 per cent chance of a penalty was turned into a full penalty. That made the difference tonight.”

Defender Ibrahima Konate echoed his manager’s frustration: “It’s disappointing because the penalty decided the match, and I’m not convinced it was the right call. But it’s football, we have to accept it and focus on the rest of the season.”

Complaints About Time-Wasting and Added Time

Slot also voiced concerns about Galatasaray’s tactics and the officiating, claiming the match lacked proper flow.

“In the second half, the game barely moved forward,” he said. “Their striker kept going down, there were constant interruptions, and even with added time, the referee blew his whistle after exactly eight minutes. It was very frustrating.”

With Alisson sidelined and doubts hanging over Ekitike, Liverpool’s squad depth will be tested in the coming weeks. The Reds, who began the season with six straight victories, must now rediscover their form as injuries and controversial calls threaten to derail their early momentum.