Jurgen Klopp admits Alisson will miss extended period with 'serious' injury

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has revealed goalkeeper Alisson is set for a longer spell on the sidelines as his injury is 'serious'.

Alisson withdrew from the squad to face Brentford on February 17 due to a hamstring problem sustained in training, while he sat out their victory against Burnley the week prior as he was ill. He has now missed the Reds' last five games, including last week's Carabao Cup final win against Chelsea at Wembley.

Ahead of Saturday's trip to Nottingham Forest back in Premier League action, Klopp was asked about when Alisson could return, but he had some bad news to deliver.

"There is no real timescale on it, but it is a proper muscle injury," Klopp said. "It is not a short one. It is a rather serious one, but not a season-ending injury."

In Alisson's absence, Caoimhin Kelleher has stepped up and put in some sensational performances, most notably in last week's Carabao Cup triumph when Liverpool's backs were against the walls.

Kelleher was the subject of transfer interest last summer but chose to stay at Anfield and is now enjoying an extended run in the side.

"There were talks with the player before the season, but it never reached a point whereby it was, 'You have to stay, shut up'. It was just the normal discussion about his future," Klopp said of Kelleher.

"The most important thing was we had to help him on the next step in his development by playing more games. I saw it the same way as what the player would say. I think now he would be pretty happy with the decision he made in the summer.

"For me there was no chance of him leaving, so I was not interested in who was asking. It would have had to be a proper price to give us a chance of doing something in a difficult market.

"It is not like other goalkeepers moving from A to B for £15m or £20m. That is totally unrealistic and nonsense."

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