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This article is part of Football FanCast’s Opinion series, which provides analysis, insight and opinion on any issue within the beautiful game, from Paul Pogba’s haircuts to League Two relegation battles…
When Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson pulled up with an injury less than 45 minutes into the Premier League season, it would have left many people surprised – no one more so than manager Jurgen Klopp.
As he is a goalkeeper – with less exertions in terms of running – and one who played every minute in the top flight and the Champions League last term, the 26-year-old likely wouldn’t have been a player too high up on a list of players the German would have been concerned about losing.
But that is exactly what has happened, with the German confirming that he will be out “for the next few weeks”.
There is no doubt that is a huge early season blow for the Reds in their bid to overcome Manchester City in the title race.
It is also an early warning that those vital players that may be viewed as invincible – such as Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah – perhaps aren’t.
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Like the South American, they were pretty much ever-presents in 2018/19 and only missed 194 minutes of Premier League action between them – the centre-back 35 minutes and the Egyptian attacker 159 with none of that being due to injury or suspension.
In terms of the Merseyside outfit’s summer business, they didn’t make the additions that would be able to effectively replace those two in particular.
Until January the former Borussia Dortmund boss has to go with what he has got, and that means if he – heaven forbid – loses either van Dijk or Salah to injury, he will have to find a solution within his squad.
I’m not going to patronise the experienced 52-year-old by saying that this isn’t something he has considered and planned for, but the Alisson blow should lead to a more focused examination on what he can do.
What are Liverpool’s plan B and even plan C going to be if they lose another key man?
Until the next transfer window, it’s also a warning to choose games wisely for his key players, identifying when he can afford to rest them and when he can’t. That will inevitably reduce the risk of losing his most important personnel.
The injury to the Brazilian stopper at this early stage of the campaign is clearly bad news, but positives could come out of it if it forces Klopp to plan thoroughly for what he’s going to do should the worst happen to someone else, and obliges him to rotate effectively.
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