Goalkeeper Alisson Becker is finally fit enough to return for Liverpool on Tuesday night after missing 11 games with injury – but boss Arne Slot has told his No 1 he has big shoes to fill in replacing back-up keeper Caoimhin Kelleher.
The Brazilian has been out for two months with a hamstring injury after also sitting out of a significant chunk of last season with the same problem. Kelleher has deputised excellently despite a rare error in the 3-3 draw at Newcastle last week.
Slot has always insisted Alisson, 32, is his main man between the sticks despite Kelleher’s red-hot form. But the Reds head coach says it will be difficult for Alisson to do better than the Irish shot-stopper when he returns.
‘I think it speaks for itself if you can play with Alisson – who has been so outstanding for this club for so many years and the Brazil national team – that is nice to have him,’ said Slot. ‘But if you look at how his replacement did, it is difficult to do it better.
‘Caoimh did also so well, so we can say that we have two very good goalkeepers. For so many years Alisson has been outstanding for this club that we are hoping he will do the same (when he returns).’
Liverpool will need to use their squad depth in the coming weeks with this trip to the Catalan city of Girona, around an hour north of Barcelona, marking the first of six this side of New Year in a congested festive schedule.
Alisson Becker has been named in Liverpool’s Champions League squad for their Girona clash
He returns from a lengthy injury lay-off and has already missed 11 matches so far this season
Liverpool boss Arne Slot will be boosted for the contest by Alisson’s return to fitness
Joe Gomez and Jarell Quansah, who had just one league start between them before December, will be asked to go to the well several times with fellow defenders Ibrahima Konate, Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas all unlikely to feature before Christmas.
There may also be minutes for Japan midfielder Wataru Endo this week as Alexis Mac Allister is suspended in the Champions League and Premier League for an accumulation of yellow cards in both competitions.
Federico Chiesa remained on Merseyside with an illness, while Diogo Jota trained on Monday but is not fit enough to play yet. Youngsters James McConnell and James Norris were part of Liverpool’s 19-man travelling party from John Lennon Airport.
Girona, part of the City Football Group and sister club of Manchester City, are in the Champions League for the first time after finishing third in LaLiga last year and Slot added: ‘It’s really special what they have done here.
‘They were coming close to becoming the Leicester City of Spain, competing for the league title with this budget… probably shows how good a manager Michel is. Last season I watched a lot of them.’
Michel, who had been tipped as a potential successor of Pep Guardiola at City, said: ‘Liverpool dominate all the concepts of the game. Their game is very dynamic, they change structure at any moment and they have players with top intensity and pressure.
‘At Rayo (Vallecano, his former club) I always sang ‘next year Rayo-Liverpool’ (when they were in Europe) and it was a dream. After qualifying for the Champions League, they were an opponent I wanted. Playing at Anfield or here is the same, it’s a dream for everyone.’
Probable Liverpool XI: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Gomez, Van Dijk, Robertson; Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Szoboszlai, Diaz; Nunez.
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