Liverpool were dealt an unfortunate blow in their pursuit of the Premier League title with another injury to goalkeeper Alisson Becker in their win over Crystal Palace.
The Brazilian, widely regarded as one of the best in the world between the sticks, is set to face around six weeks on the sidelines, missing crucial fixtures for Arne Slot as he looks to continue his strong start to life at Anfield.
“Unfortunately, Alisson will not be with us in these matches with how he walked off the pitch,” said Slot, suggesting a hamstring problem. “Almost in every position we have a second option, that’s also really good, and number three has already shown that.”
The Reds will need to rely on their options from the bench until the big clashes with Real Madrid and Manchester City after the November international break.
For now, they still command the lead in the Premier League title race and dominate the Liverpool vs Chelsea odds as Slot welcomes Enzo Maresca to Anfield following a near-perfect run.
Indeed, just the one loss to Nottingham Forest has prevented a flawless start to the Dutchman’s tenure, and while Alisson faces a stretch on the sidelines, Liverpool still have some solid goalkeeping options.
In this article, we take a look at who could deputise in net for the Reds over the coming weeks and weigh up how strong Liverpool’s ‘keeper options are.
Caoimhin Kelleher
After making 26 appearances in all competitions last season, Caoimhin Kelleher is one of the best backup goalkeepers in the Premier League, and could easily be a starter for a plethora of top clubs.
The Irish international featured primarily in Liverpool’s League Cup successes over the last three seasons but got a run in the league last spring after Alisson was injured.
The 26-year-old is likely to leave Anfield in the coming seasons to pursue a regular place in the team, with the likes of Brentford and Southampton interested in securing his services.
Kelleher is calm and assured in possession and a great shot-stopper. He will bring a calming presence to the Kop despite Alisson’s absence for the coming games, having played most of the big fixtures before.
Vitezslav Jaros
Vitezslav Jaros was surprisingly called off the bench away at Palace to make his Liverpool debut. Alisson’s injury and Kelleher being ill led to the Czech keeper playing the final 20 minutes at Selhurst Park, and while he had little to do, he made sure he remained composed.
The departure of Adrian over the summer has meant Jaros stepped up into the third-choice goalkeeper role this season, having enjoyed success with Austrian side Sturm Graz, who won the league with him out on loan.
At a club like Liverpool, where football odds always have you down to win, it is important that you remain alert and be prepared to come on at any time, and Jaros will have gained a wealth of experience from his debut, perhaps doing enough to earn a League Cup start away against Brighton and Hove Albion.
Giorgi Mamardashvili
One of Liverpool’s summer signings under Slot, Giorgi Mamardashvili returned to Valencia back on loan for the season and will link up with the Reds in 2025 with hopes of securing the number one spot.
The Georgian impressed at Euro 2024 and helped his country qualify for their first-ever major international tournament. He has also established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in La Liga behind Jan Oblak, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and Thibaut Courtois.
There were talks of recalling Mamardashvili if Alisson’s injury had been more serious, but it will be interesting to see how he features when he eventually arrives at Anfield – a modern goalkeeper who implements traditional elements into his game.