Liverpool hit with double injury setback as Arne Slot choice looks likely

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The Reds trained on Wednesday before this weekend's Premier League encounter against Crystal Palace, where third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is expected to start

Arne Slot is preparing for Crystal Palace(Image: Getty Images)

Liverpool has been handed a double injury setback with news that neither Alisson nor Joe Gomez trained with the first-team squad on Wednesday.

The Reds have been hit with several recent injury blows over the last two weeks, the most serious being Hugo Ekitike's ruptured Achilles tendon in the defeat to Paris Saint-Germain that will prevent him from playing at this summer’s World Cup.

Joe Gomez also picked up a knock in that Champions League quarter-final loss, while Giorgi Mamardashvili was replaced in the second half of Sunday’s win over Everton after a collision with Beto resulted in a deep gash to the goalkeeper’s knee. With Alisson also a doubt for this weekend against Crystal Palace, Arne Slot may have to turn to third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman.

The 29-year-old replaced Mamardashvili at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and could make just his fifth-ever Premier League start, and first for Liverpool.

"I want Giorgi to be fine and then Ali, the best goalkeeper in the world, to come back fit," Woodman said after the Everton victory.

"We will see what happens on Saturday. I will just go about my stuff this week and prepare as if I am playing."

Freddie Woodman is likely to start in net this weekend(Image: Getty Images)

Slot revealed on Sunday that he hoped Alisson might return to team training this week, but Sky Sports reported live from the AXA Training Centre on Wednesday and confirmed the Brazilian was not part of the group, along with Mamardashvili, who is expected to be out for a few weeks.

Woodman was filmed fielding shots from the likes of Mohamed Salah and Curtis Jones, while youth-team stopper Armin Pecsi was involved in Wednesday's session.

Gomez also did not participate in training. The defender was replaced after being introduced as a substitute against PSG and despite Slot saying Gomez was not injured, he added post-match that the 28-year-old was unable to sprint.

He was subsequently ruled out of the Everton game and remains a doubt to take on Palace.

As for Alisson, he has not played since the Champions League win over Galatasaray on March 18 and has been recovering from a hamstring injury.

A date of late April was provisionally suggested for his return, but that is looking increasingly unlikely.

He may be back in time for next week’s Premier League trip to Old Trafford.

Elsewhere, Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo, Stefan Bajcetic and Jayden Danns remain sidelined with long-term injuries.