Liverpool fans will not be feeling especially positive after being hammered by Atalanta last night.
In one of the worst results of Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club, the Reds were pummelled 3-0 at Anfield by the Italians.
Previously considered favourites for the competition, the result leaves Liverpool’s Europa League hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
The manner of the defeat also means that there’s even more pressure on the Reds in their remaining Premier League games. If they’re to send Klopp out with a big trophy, it’s now going to have to be the league title.
It isn’t going to be easy to pick themselves up from a rare home thrashing, but Liverpool haven’t got time to wallow. They face Crystal Palace back on home turf on Sunday. Thankfully though, they might have some good news ahead of that crunch match.
Liverpool given Alisson Becker boost
There weren’t many good things to take from last night’s game. But that doesn’t mean that some kind of hope can’t be salvaged.
At the very least, it was terrific to see Trent Alexander-Arnold, Diogo Jota and Stefan Bajcetic back in the matchday squad. Jota even got on, and was praised for the small impact he had by Klopp.
Although he didn’t make the squad last night, Liverpool have also seen Alisson Becker return to training this week. Caoimhin Kelleher has done superbly well in Alisson’s absence but showed last night why the Reds could do with having their No.1 back.
And although echoing the praise for Kelleher, pundit Paul Merson says Alisson getting back fit is a ‘huge boost’ for Liverpool ahead of the Palace game this weekend.
“Caoimhin Kelleher has done amazingly well this season, but Alisson Becker’s injury return is a huge boost for Jurgen Klopp ahead of his last few games as Liverpool boss,” Merson told Sportskeeda.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold is also back so Conor Bradley might need to make way for him in the coming games.”
Will Alisson play against Crystal Palace
It remains a little bit unknown exactly when Alisson will be ready to feature in the XI for the first time since February 4th.
Having come back to training at the start of the week though, he should hopefully be in contention to play against Palace.
With Kelleher the designated Europa League ‘keeper so far this season, it was always unlikely that Alisson would have played yesterday anyway. Only just back with the squad, it wouldn’t have made much sense to put him on the bench either.
We’ll likely get a little more clarity on the situation when Klopp speaks to the press later today. If not, we’ll just have to wait for Sunday. Either way, Ali’s return can’t come soon enough.