Premier League English

Liverpool dealt major Alisson injury blow in narrow Crystal Palace win

Liverpool’s narrow win 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday came at a high cost as goalkeeper Alisson had to be substituted at Selhurst Park after suffering a major injury scare.

Diogo Jota, in his 100th game for the Reds, gave Arne Slot’s side a lead in the first half which they held on to for the rest of the game.

Alisson appeared to have sustained a blow to his hamstring and had to come off in the 79th minute as 23-year-old deputy Vitezslav Jaros came on in his place. Looking distraught at full-time, the Brazilian shot-stopper had been struggling for fitness at certain points in the last few seasons. The 32-year-old Brazilian has already missed two matches this term with a thigh problem and was absent for 19 fixtures in 2023/24 for both club and country due to hamstring and muscle issues.

The Reds have some huge matches coming up after the October international break, including clashes with Chelsea, RB Leipzig and Arsenal, and manager Slot candidly admitted he doesn’t think Alisson will be ready to play in those games.

Speaking after the victory to TNT Sports, the Dutchman revealed: “Unfortunately Ali will not be with us in those matches I assume, if I saw how he walked off the pitch.”

Regular backup goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was missing from the matchday squad in Croydon due to illness, thus giving Jaros the opportunity to come on to make his first senior appearance for Liverpool. The Czechia international was quickly forced into action, making a save from Eberechi Eze to keep his team’s clean sheet in tact.