Liverpool boosted by Alisson Becker’s return

Liverpool has enjoyed an unusual amount of rest ahead of their Champions League match against Girona, following the postponement of their weekend fixture, and manager Arne Slot indicated that no changes would be made to the team, with goalkeeper Alisson returning from injury.

The Premier League leaders’ game against Everton on Saturday was canceled due to bad weather, and Slot plans to avoid rotating his lineup during European matches.

“If we had faced Everton, we might have used the same lineup, but it’s unpredictable what such an intense match could lead to,” Slot remarked at a press conference prior to Tuesday’s match.

“I believe canceling it was a wise choice; a match of that nature should be played under favorable conditions. It was certainly a good decision. Now everyone feels well-prepared, so there’s no need to alter the team from the last game, and we will start with a strong side tomorrow,” he continued.

Slot’s choice to field his best players has proven effective thus far, as Liverpool sits at the top of the Champions League group, guaranteeing at least a playoff spot, although they aim to secure automatic qualification for the round of 16 with a top-eight finish.

“When you consistently play your starters, you also need to achieve results, as we strive to finish high to bypass the next round. If we avoid that round but face a tough draw, we’ll reassess our approach; for now, we need to maintain our position in the top eight, so a win is essential, and tomorrow presents the first opportunity,” he stated.

Alisson has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since early October but is now available for the match against Girona.

“He is back to fitness. It’s clear that having Alisson, who has been exceptional for this club and the Brazilian national team for many years, is a great advantage,” Slot remarked.

“However, considering how well his substitute (Kelleher) performed, it won’t be easy for him to outperform that, so we expect him to maintain similar levels, potentially with a slight improvement. But Caoimhin did excellently, so we can confidently say we have two excellent goalkeepers who can perform for us,” he added.

Girona, in its inaugural European season, is sitting in 30th place in the standings with three points from five matches, three points away from the playoff spots, while Liverpool currently has 15 points, two ahead of Inter Milan.