Arne Slot revealed Alisson Becker is fit to return but challenged him to match the brilliance of Caoimhin Kelleher.
Liverpool's number 1 has missed 11 games due to a hamstring injury, but Kelleher's replacement has ensured the Reds' flying start to the season could continue. The Irish stand-in keeper may find it difficult to lose his place, but Alisson could get minutes against Girona tonight to get him back to full fitness ahead of the festive period.
When asked if Alisson is fit to return, Slot said: “Yes, he is. It speaks for itself. When you can play with Alisson, who has been so excellent for the club and for the Brazil national team for so many years, then it is certainly nice to have him back.
“But if you look at how his replacement did, it will not be easy to do even better. We expect the same, and maybe a little better in the margins, but Caoimh did so well that we can say we have two good goalkeepers, just like our left winger, but Alisson has been so excellent for this club for so many years.
“We expect him to do the same in the coming months.” Liverpool can secure their top eight spot in this new-look Champions League format with a win in Spain tonight.
They have won all five games so far and if they finish in the top eight they will no longer have a play-off round in February but will go to the last sixteen. If they finish top of the table they will also be seeded for the draw, but Slot is unsure how it will all play out as this is the format's debut in the competition.
He explained: “I've often said that at the end of the season you can judge it in the best possible way. Is it useful to finish first eight, or to finish number one? If in the end it means that we always have to play starters and skip the next round and still have a very difficult draw, then maybe next season we will think differently about what we do in the group stage.
“That's something we'll have to wait and see at the end of the season and see where it takes us.” Federico Chiesa missed the trip to Girona due to illness. Alexis Mac Allister also did not make the trip because he is suspended after receiving three yellow cards in Europe.
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