Given that he is on international duty with Brazil until the day before Liverpool’s clash with Watford at Vicarage Road on Saturday 16th October, it has been widely assumed that Alisson Becker would not be involved with The Reds as they travel to face The Hornets.
However, as per Neil Jones of Goal, Liverpool are not completely ruling their number one goalkeeper out of the game.
When asked about Liverpool’s international players who are travelling to Red Listed countries by Paul Machin on our Journo Insight Extra show, Goal’s Liverpool correspondent said:
“Brazil’s game against Uruguay finishes on the morning of Friday 15th and Liverpool obviously play at 12:30 on Saturday 16th in Watford, so that would appear to rule both Alisson and Fabinho out, although I have spoken to a couple of people at Liverpool who’ve said, possibly, there could be a risk to be taken with Alisson because you can do team shape and do your preparation for the game without needing your goalkeeper to be there to do it all.”
Neil went on to say that there’s no talk of such a risk being taken with Fabinho as his position demands more from both a physical and mental point of view, so he’d need to have trained beforehand.
However, it does look like The Reds are considering playing Alisson, especially if he doesn’t feature for Brazil against Uruguay, with Ederson still looking most likely to play it that game.
“They might still take a risk with Alisson, if not, it’ll be Caoimhín Kelleher. I think we can pretty much rule Fabinho out, certainly as a starter.”
Redmen Reacts
If he’s fully fit and feeling fresh enough to play after his travels, it would be a huge boost for Liverpool if Alisson could face Watford.
Caoimhín Kelleher has done enough to prove that he’s a more than capable replacement for the Brazilian but he’s still a young ‘keeper and he’s not at the level of The Reds’ number one.
Liverpool’s last trip to Watford ended in a heavy defeat, and Alisson wasn’t exactly faultless in that game, but it would be much more reassuring to have him between the sticks at Vicarage Road.
The international calendar is playing havoc with the plans of many top clubs this season, but there could still be some good news for Jurgen Klopp if he can have his best goalkeeper available.
It remains to be seen if he chooses to take the risk on Alisson, but we certainly hope he does!
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