Reds injury round-up after the Fulham loss and ahead of the clash with West Ham United
After a rare weekend to forget, Liverpool have the chance to bounce back at home this weekend. West Ham United are the opponents on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds slipped to a 3-2 loss at Fulham on Sunday after a poor first-half performance. However, Arsenal’s draw at Everton a day earlier means the gaps remains at a healthy 11 points at the summit.
Arne Slot was expected to welcome back Alisson Becker to the side for the game in the capital, although the goalkeeper was missing again from the matchday squad.
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The Brazilian failed to tick the final box of the concussion protocols that would have allowed him to resume action against Everton last Wednesday before once more sitting out the defeat to Fulham, with Slot saying: “There’s a week to go [until the next match] so that gives us a bit of time.
“But you know as Liverpool we always follow the protocol in moments like this when it’s a concussion. If you haven’t ticked all the boxes, he can’t be in goal. He wants it a lot but the protocol is the protocol.”
Elsewhere in the squad, Conor Bradley made his return off the bench on Sunday and could reasonably be expected to come in from the off against the Hammers.
The Northern Ireland international got an assist for Luis Diaz’s goal and provided fresh impetus from the right flank. If he’s ready, he will surely get the nod with Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez injured.
Slot will provide an update on the pair ahead of the weekend’s action. The Dutchman has previously confirmed that both will be out for weeks to come with ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.
The duo could be the only injured players for Liverpool should Alisson and Bradley make their respective returns. Tyler Morton is also back in training after his recent layoff, Slot confirmed before the Fulham contest.
Arsenal could close the gap to eight points ahead of Liverpool kicking off on Sunday, as they host Brentford at the Emirates Stadium a day earlier.