Liverpool injury update: Alisson Becker and Harvey Elliott latest news ahead of West Ham
Liverpool injury update ahead of the clash against West Ham United in the Carabao Cup.
Arne Slot got the response he wanted from Liverpool.
After a surprise 1-0 defeat by Nottingham Forest which ended the Reds’ perfect start to the Premier League, the head coach was keen to see how his troops reacted. A 3-1 victory over AC Milan in the Champions League was a fine performance, but Slot was still intrigued how that would be followed up.
Bournemouth visited Anfield on Saturday and Liverpool delivered a stylist 3-0 win. Luis Diaz fired a double before Darwin Nunez netted a sublime finish before half-time.
Now Slot’s side have another quick turnaround as the Reds prepare to start the defence of the Carabao Cup when they play host to West Ham United on Wednesday. It’s a competition that the Reds will feel they can claim for a third time in four seasons - and Slot would no doubt relish carrying on from Jurgen Klopp’s trophy-laden period by winning a piece of silverware in his first campaign.
Although the season is still in its infancy, Liverpool have done well in avoiding injuries so far. Only two senior players missed the Bournemouth win.
Alisson Becker found himself back on the treatment table, having had a sustained spell of absence because of a hamstring issue last season. The Brazil international was unable to feature against Bournemouth, with Slot admitting that Alisson was a doubt on the eve of the game.
Caoimhin Kelleher deputised in between the posts and impressed to ensure the Reds recorded a fourth clean sheet in five games. Alisson subsequently posted a photo on Instagram of himself using a device to circulate blood to muscles.
Given that Liverpool were assessing Alisson’s fitness before the Bournemouth win, it suggests that his issue is not serious. But Alisson may not be risked against West Ham, while Kelleher has been assigned duties in the Carabao Cup for the past three seasons - helping the Reds win the competition on two occasions.
Meanwhile, Harvey Elliott continues his rehabilitation from a fractured foot that he sustained during England under-21 training earlier this week. The attacking midfielder had made only one brief substitute cameo in the Reds’ opening three games yet would have likely started against West Ham had he been fit.