Liverpool’s Alisson a fitness doubt for Bournemouth match with hamstring issue

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is a fitness doubt for Saturday’s Premier League match with Bournemouth an Anfield.

The 31-year-old Brazil international hasn’t trained since Tuesday’s win over AC Milan due to tightness in his hamstring. Caoimhin Kelleher is on standby to start his first top-flight match since April.

“We’re waiting to see if Ali can train today,” said Liverpool head coach Arne Slot.

“If he can’t then he probably won’t play. He has a slight issue with one of his muscles and we wonder if this game tomorrow is coming too early or not.

“He didn’t do it in the Milan game, it happened a bit before but after the Milan game he felt it more and more. We have to wait and see if he’s ready to be in goal tomorrow or whether we wait a few extra days.”

Slot believes the midweek win at San Siro provided the perfect lift for Liverpool after last weekend’s defeat against Nottingham Forest.

“For me it was not only about bouncing back, it was also about how we performed in Europe the last two years,” he added.

“The club had some difficulties in the Champions League two years ago and last season against Atalanta (in the quarter-finals of the Europa League) was also difficult so we had a point to prove.

“The standards were set really high by so many Liverpool teams and we have to try and get back to those standards. It was a good step against AC Milan. The way we played showed we can play dominating football away from Anfield.

“If every player plays five per cent better against Bournemouth than against Forest, which is not that difficult, that will make a massive change.”

Darwin Nunez has yet to start a game so far this season with Diogo Jota preferred up front but Slot insists the Uruguay striker’s time will come.

“Darwin will get his chance in the near future as we play a lot of games,” Slot said.

“Work really hard and then the goals will come and that is what he did when he came on against Milan.

“For me it is mainly about the work you do without the ball. Darwin is fitter and fitter now and understands day by day better what we expect from him, but he is in competition with Diogo who has done really well in the last games.”

GO DEEPER

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