Arne Slot revealed there is a chance Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker returns from a hamstring injury in time to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday.
But Slot did not provide assurances over the Brazilian’s long-term future at Anfield as he prepares to enter the final year of his contract and amid reports he could move away this summer.
Alisson has been sidelined since Liverpool’s Champions League win over Galatasaray last month while an injury to Giorgi Mamardashvili means third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman may be required on Saturday.
Mamardashvili suffered a nasty cut during the win at Everton last weekend, which forced Liverpool to hand Woodman his Premier League debut for the club as a second-half replacement.
“Giorgi will definitely not be available for tomorrow and also for the upcoming weeks. Ali is close to a return of play, so let’s see if tomorrow comes too early,” Slot said.
Liverpool recently triggered a one-year extension to Alisson’s contract until 2027 but reports surfacing from Italy have suggested Juventus could target the Brazil international this summer.
“I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible,” Slot said. “The answer is going to be that all these rumours that are out there about him and about probably me and about others, we don’t react to rumours in this room, also not in my conversations with Richard [Hughes, the sporting director].
“We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment. The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for and then he wants to be in goal for the country he wants to play for, that is Brazil. I think that is already the short and mid-term future.”
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