Is Liverpool About to Survive Alisson Becker’s Injury Spree?

The Injury and Its Immediate Impact

Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker will miss upcoming matches after suffering a hamstring injury against Galatasaray in the Champions League last Tuesday, during the competition’s second group-stage game. The setback arrives at a moment when the Reds could ill afford a dip in form, given the high stakes in both domestic and continental commitments.

Medical assessments pointed to a back-of-muscle issue rather than a minor niggle, with the expectation that he will be sidelined for roughly six weeks. Such a layoff threatens to disrupt the balance between defense and goalkeeping that has underpinned Liverpool’s struggles to maintain stability in recent campaigns.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, the injury will force Alisson to miss a cluster of key fixtures, including a Manchester United test and a Manchester City showdown in the Premier League, as well as a high-profile Champions League game against Real Madrid on November 4. In practical terms, the Reds will navigate a month or more without their first-choice shot-stopper, which could reshape tactical plans and lineup decisions across the pitch.

Time for the Second String and the Bigger Picture

With Alisson unavailable, Georgiy Mamardashvili — Liverpool’s backup keeper who arrived last summer from Valencia for around £29 million — will likely be handed the gloves for an initial spell of around a month. It’s a real test for the Georgian keeper, who has waited for his chance to shine and now faces a demanding couple of months in one of Europe’s most scrutinized nets.

Head coach Arne Slot has been quoted as saying that Alisson felt something during the Galatasaray game, which makes it risky to push him back into action. Slot’s approach has always prioritized long-term health over short-term heroics, even if fans groan at the thought of a tough fixture list without their No. 1. The Chelsea vs. Liverpool tag has a bit of extra spice now as Liverpool prepare to visit Stamford Bridge in a crucial league clash that could shape momentum for weeks to come.

Alisson Becker has long been one of the pillars of Klopp’s Liverpool, both for the calm he brings to build-ups from the back and for a string of decisive saves that have translated into tangible trophies. The current setback slots into a broader narrative: injuries have disrupted his recent campaigns, triggering debates about depth, rotation, and the sustainability of relying on a single spine during grueling schedules.

Injuries of this kind aren’t new at Anfield, but the pattern has raised eyebrows. The Daily Mail highlighted that Alisson missed roughly 20 Premier League matches across the last two seasons due to injuries or illness, underscoring why Liverpool were rumoured to have considered reinforcements in the goalkeeping department even before this setback. Mamardashvili’s opportunity could become more than a temporary fix; it could redefine the team’s timeline if Alisson’s return is protracted.

Arne Slot addressed the media after the Galatasaray game, noting that while Alisson’s fitness is improving, there is no ambition to rush him back for a match that could risk a longer layoff. The plan, for now, centers on giving the team a brief but meaningful window to regroup behind a keeper who has already proven capable, while maintaining the discipline and organization that have defined Liverpool’s defensive approach over the years.

So, what does this mean for the team’s near future? Liverpool will look to steady the ship in the short term with Mamardashvili, cut their risks in the back line, and perhaps lean on the “next man up” mentality that has become a familiar feature of modern football squads. The upcoming schedule — featuring Manchester United and Manchester City in the league, followed by Real Madrid in the Champions League — tests not only the goalkeeper depth but the collective resolve and consistency of the roster as a whole.

What has Alisson achieved with Liverpool since arriving seven years ago? He’s helped steer the club back to the summit after years of hollow spells, delivering a 2019 Champions League triumph and the 2020 Premier League title through a mixture of shot-stopping mastery and composure on the ball. His performance in the semi-final against Barcelona remains etched in club folklore, a defining night that highlighted his ability to produce the decisive moment in the most high-pressure contexts.

Within the same period, Alisson contributed to Liverpool’s successes in other competitions: the UEFA Super Cup, the FIFA Club World Cup, and major domestic cups. His influence extended beyond the stick-and-gloves, shaping the defensive organization that allowed the team to press high and control the tempo in important fixtures. Off the pitch, his consistency has been cited in debates about the best goalkeeper in the world, with accolades such as The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper in 2019 and the Yashin Award in the same year framing a career built on reliability and spectacular reaction saves.

Over time, though, injuries have increasingly punctured the rhythm of his seasons. Whether due to muscular strains or bouts of illness, the pattern has raised questions about whether Liverpool can rely on a single pillar for a long stretch without reinforcement. The club’s current approach appears to hinge on strategizing a careful return for Alisson alongside the emergence of Mamardashvili, ensuring that a credible tactical alternative is always within reach for one of football’s most demanding positions. In short: at Anfield, depth is no longer a luxury; it’s a necessity, now more than ever.

Two punchlines to close with a wink: first, if Alisson keeps collecting these “holidays,” Liverpool might soon start charging him rent for the goalmouth — he keeps showing up in the wrong box just long enough to become a legend of the physio’s calendar. Second, with a backup ready, Klopp might finally realize his bench has more depth than his coffee table—and that’s saying something when you’re mid-season planning and still somehow finding a moment for a good snack break.