Triple Liverpool injury worry emerges before Chelsea as Arne Slot handed major selection headache

Liverpool have been handed a triple injury worry before Saturday's clash at Chelsea (5:30pm kick-off UK time).

The Premier League champions have suffered back-to-back defeats going into this weekend's clash at Stamford Bridge. Arne Slot's team lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace last Saturday before losing at Turkish champions Galatasaray in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Chelsea have also struggled recently, having lost consecutive league fixtures to Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively before recovering to edge past Benfica 1-0 on Tuesday. Enzo Maresca's side will now be aiming for a statement win when they host Slot's men in West London.

And the Blues' hopes of earning all three points have been boosted by Liverpool's injury problems. Slot has confirmed that first-choice goalkeeper Alisson will miss this weekend's fixture after picking up a knock in Turkey.

Former Valencia shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili is likely to make his Premier League debut having come on in place of the Brazilian in midweek.

Meanwhile, striker Hugo Ekitike is a major doubt, having injured himself stretching for possession midway through the second half against Galatasaray.

However, colleagues at the Liverpool Echo report that the player believed after the game he only suffered from cramp and had avoided a serious issue.

The French forward has been in fine form for Slot's team with five goals in nine games since arriving in a £79million deal from Eintracht Frankfurt this summer.

Elsewhere, Italian forward Federico Chiesa missed the game in Istanbul after sustaining a knock against Palace.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Slot said: "He got a little niggle, I think it is the word you use here in England.

"In the last game against Palace. He tried it today [Monday].

"He was on the pitch in the beginning but he couldn't end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it's Chelsea again."

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