Chelsea handed huge boost for Liverpool clash as Arne Slot confirms injury blow

Arne Slot has confirmed Liverpool have suffered a significant injury setback with Alisson Becker set to be ruled out for six weeks due to a hamstring issue. However, both Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa are available for Saturday's Premier League trip to Chelsea.

Alisson picked up his injury while racing back to deny Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen during the early stages of the second period in Tuesday evening's 1-0 Champions League reverse in Istanbul.

The 32-year-old had scans on Thursday to determine the severity of the problem having already been omitted from Brazil's squad the day before for their upcoming friendlies against South Korea and Japan in the Far East. Slot has now disclosed that Liverpool don't anticipate the goalkeeper returning imminently.

The Reds manager said: "Alisson is not part of the squad tomorrow and he won't travel to Brazil as well with the national team. He will be out for Saturday.

"I would be surprised if he's there for first game after international break (home to Manchester United on October 19) but we don't know after that. Depends how quickly he can recover."

It means summer arrival Giorgi Mamardashvili is set to make his Premier League debut at Chelsea on Saturday. There was, however, more positive news regarding Ekitike and Chiesa, who have both encountered fitness issues over the past week.

Ekitike was withdrawn during the second period in Turkey following extensive on-field treatment, whilst Chiesa missed the journey altogether owing to a minor problem. However, Slot stated: "Hugo is going to train again today and same can be said for Federico."

The trip to Chelsea (5.30pm kick-off) marks Liverpool's final game before the season's second international break. Mo Salah returns to familiar surroundings, having endured a tricky spell at Stamford Bridge between 2014-16.

Ahead of the reunion, Slot has revealed how Salah is still adjusting to Liverpool's new way of playing. He said said: "He is part of a team that faces different opposition than the first half of last season.

"If you compare how we won the away game against United where they tried to play out from the back, and at home when Onana just kept going long, that's what has changed.

"We don't score as many open play goals as we did first part of last season and something we work on very hard. The more we play under the new set-up the better it will go. We still struggle a bit to find enough goals from open play.

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