Arne Slot ruled Mohamed Salah out of Liverpool's trip to Manchester United on Sunday and said Alisson remains a doubt for the 15:30 BST kick-off.
Slot revealed Salah appeared to suffer a hamstring problem during Liverpool's 3-1 win over Crystal Palace and added that, despite the forward's usual resilience, he will not be fit in time. "As we know from Mo, [he is] always working incredibly hard," Slot said, before delivering the tournament-sized blow: "Usually, he is earlier fit than other players from a minor injury but not for Sunday." The club confirmed Salah is leaving Anfield in the summer.
The absences cut across Liverpool's preparations. Alisson has not played since March 18 and "Ali hasn't trained yet, [but is] very close to training, so I have to speak to the medical staff," Slot said on Friday morning. He added: "We don't want to take any risks." With Giorgi Mamardashvili also sidelined after an injury sustained in the Merseyside derby against Everton, Slot faces a narrow pool of goalkeepers a week before a fixture that, in the manager's words, is worth three points.
Freddie Woodman, who kept goal against Crystal Palace, remains in the conversation and "may be called upon again," sources confirmed. Slot declined to commit to a final decision and said he would consult the medical team on Alisson's availability, a process made more urgent by the club's current matching schedule.
The squad list arriving at Old Trafford will be thin. Slot confirmed Liverpool were definitely without Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Hugo Ekitike. Left-back Milos Kerkez has been touch-and-go: "Milos has had some niggles, and left the training pitch on Wednesday. I expect him to train today or tomorrow," Slot said, noting Kerkez left the pitch on Wednesday after a fitness concern.
The chronology compounds the selection headache. Alisson last featured on March 18 and, while Slot says the goalkeeper is "very close but we, of course, don't want to take any risks because that's not what you want for any player," no training return has been logged yet. That uncertainty leaves Slot weighing the immediate need for a top keeper against the club's longer-term interest in avoiding aggravation.
There is a tension between caution and necessity. Slot repeatedly framed his approach around avoiding fresh problems: "It's a bonus for every player that comes back," he said, while underlining limits on expediency with, "We don't want to take any risks." The comments highlight a clash — Liverpool prize fitness but must also chase results at a rival ground where a slip would cost three points in a tight table.
Slot's immediate task is clear: speak with the medical staff, confirm whether Alisson can train before selection, and decide whether to hand Woodman another start. The choice will decide more than a lineup — it will determine whether Liverpool risk a returning No.1 for immediate gain or protect him and hand responsibility to a keeper who has already been thrust into action this week.
