Arne Slot has confirmed Alisson Becker will be sidelined for several weeks and offered updates on Liverpool duo Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa

Arne Slot has confirmed Liverpool have been dealt a major injury blow with Alisson Becker expected to be sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring problem. But both Hugo Ekitike and Federico Chiesa are in contention for Saturday’s Premier League visit to Chelsea.

Alisson suffered his injury when sprinting back to make a save from Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen during the opening stages of the second half in the 1-0 Champions League defeat in Istanbul on Tuesday evening.

The 32-year-old underwent scans on Thursday to ascertain the extent of the damage having the previous day not been named in Brazil’s squad for their forthcoming friendlies against South Korea and Japan in the Far East.

READ MORE: Arne Slot missing key Liverpool partnership that can unlock Florian Wirtz from strugglesREAD MORE: Marc Guehi opens up on what happened after failed £35m Liverpool transfer

And Slot has revealed Liverpool do not expect the shot-stopper to be back available soon.

The Reds boss said: “Alisson is not a part of the squad tomorrow. And he’s not going to travel to Brazil as well for the national team. So, he will be out for Saturday.

“That depends also on how fast a recovery goes. So, Saturday it’s clear, he’s not going to play for Brazil, and I would be surprised if he would be there in the first game after the international break (home to Manchester United on October 19).

“But from there on, sometimes things can go a bit faster or a bit slower.

“It’s always difficult to say the amount of days and weeks, but for the upcoming games he will not be part of us or the Brazil team.”

There was, though, better news about Ekitike and Chiesa, who have both suffered injury problems during the past week.

Ekitike was forced off during the second half in Turkey after undergoing lengthy treatment on the pitch, while Chiesa missed the trip entirely due to a minor knock.

But Slot said: “Hugo is going to train today again and let’s see where he is, and the same can be said for Federico. We have to wait and see after the session where exactly they are.”

The visit to Chelsea (5.30pm kick-off) is Liverpool’s last match before the second international break of the season.

For the latest news and breaking news, visit liverpoolecho.co.uk/all-about/liverpool-fc. Get all the big headlines, pictures, analysis, opinion and video on the stories that matter to you.

Follow us on Twitter @‌LivEchoLFC – the official Liverpool ECHO LFC Twitter account – for all the latest LFC news as it happens in real time.

We’re also on Facebook/LiverpoolEchoLFC – your must-see LFC news, features, videos and pictures throughout the day from the Liverpool ECHO.

Article continues below

Listen to our podcasts by searching for ‘Blood Red’ wherever you get your podcasts.

Sign up for one of the Liverpool Echo’s free daily and weekly newsletters on Liverpool FC by clicking here.