Liverpool in fitness boost ahead of Chelsea clash after injury scare…

Liverpool receives a significant fitness boost ahead of the Chelsea match following an injury scare.

The team has been given a major fitness advantage before facing Chelsea, as a key player is now available after experiencing discomfort during the Champions League defeat against Galatasaray.

Despite a growing list of injury issues, Arne Slot can breathe easier knowing that one of his essential players is ready to participate.

The Reds are set to visit Chelsea on Saturday evening, aiming to avoid a third consecutive loss after recent defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray.

The Champions League setback in Turkey was compounded by injuries to goalkeeper Alisson and striker Hugo Ekitike, while Federico Chiesa was sidelined due to a minor issue.

Fortunately for Slot, Ekitike’s injury is not as severe as initially feared, allowing him to play against Chelsea.

According to Daily Mail Sport’s Liverpool Confidential column, Ekitike is optimistic that he has not sustained any serious problems and is expected to travel to London.

This news regarding Ekitike is encouraging, especially after Slot expressed concern about the striker’s condition following Tuesday’s match.

‘I wasn’t really thinking that we had an injury, but Hugo felt something,’ Slot remarked.

‘He mentioned he couldn’t continue, so we had to substitute him.’

Ekitike’s situation is a fortunate contrast to Alisson’s, as the star goalkeeper is anticipated to be sidelined for approximately six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained in Istanbul.

The 33-year-old, who has faced injury challenges in recent seasons, is likely to be out for over a month and may not return until after the international break, following scans conducted on Thursday.

Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Georgian goalkeeper acquired from Valencia for £29 million this summer, is set to make his Premier League debut.

Alisson will also miss the match against Manchester United on October 19, as well as the Champions League encounter with Real Madrid at Anfield on November 4, with a crucial Premier League match against Manchester City scheduled just five days later.

In the past two seasons, Alisson has been sidelined for 20 Premier League matches due to injury or illness, which has prompted Liverpool to initiate succession planning with the signing of the highly-rated Mamardashvili.

Chiesa is expected to return to the squad at Stamford Bridge after missing the midweek European match due to what was referred to as a ‘niggle’. Meanwhile, his fellow Italian, Giovanni Leoni, underwent surgery earlier this week for an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Following the Galatasaray match, Liverpool manager Arne Slot mentioned that the Brazil international had experienced discomfort while ‘sprinting back’.

‘When my player is down, I usually fear the worst, and by the worst, I mean that he is unable to continue,’ Slot stated.

‘It’s never a good sign when a player leaves the field in this manner. You can be certain he will not be playing on Saturday.’