Key Takeaways:
- Alisson has been ruled out of Liverpool’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea following an injury sustained against Galatasaray on Tuesday night
- Hugo Ekitike’s availability for Saturday remains uncertain after leaving the pitch with an injury, with no timeline set for his return
- Giorgi Mamardashvili could make his Premier League debut for Liverpool after joining from Valencia in the summer
Injury Concerns Ahead of Stamford Bridge Showdown
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered a challenging injury update ahead of the high-profile Premier League encounter with Chelsea on Saturday. The Reds will be without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson after he was forced to leave the field during Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat to Galatasaray. Slot indicated that the precise extent of the Brazilian’s problem remains unclear, but emphasised the likelihood of his absence at the weekend, stating: “It is never a positive sign when a player has to go off like this.
🚨🗣️ Arne Slot on Alisson playing vs. Chelsea: "You can be sure he's not playing on Saturday," pic.twitter.com/AOtg3dxwxq
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) September 30, 2025
“When my player is on the floor I nine out of 10 times fear the worst.”
“And with the worst I mean that he cannot continue, and that is what happened with Alisson.”
“Then normally, he will not be able to play Saturday, that’s 99.9 per cent.”
“I have already said 100 per cent, but let’s make it 99.9.”
Potential for Mamardashvili’s Premier League Debut
With Alisson unavailable, Georgian shot-stopper Giorgi Mamardashvili is poised to step in. The 23-year-old, who joined from Valencia in the summer, has featured just once for Liverpool so far – in a 3-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton – and could now be handed his Premier League debut in a vital contest.
| Player | Position | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alisson | Goalkeeper | Out | Injured versus Galatasaray, unavailable for Chelsea |
| Hugo Ekitike | Forward | Doubtful | Fitness to be assessed following injury on Tuesday |
| Giorgi Mamardashvili | Goalkeeper | Potential Debut | May make first Premier League appearance for Liverpool |
Ekitike Faces Race Against Time
The situation in attack is equally uncertain, with Hugo Ekitike withdrawn due to injury after stretching for the ball against Galatasaray. Slot refrained from giving a specific return date, commenting: “He said he couldn’t continue, so we had to take him off, let’s see how he is for the weekend.”
The French forward has made a significant impact for Liverpool, recording three goals and one assist from his first five league outings this term.
Chelsea Also Hit by Injury Woes
Liverpool’s weekend opponents are experiencing injury troubles of their own, as attacker Cole Palmer continues his spell on the sidelines with a groin issue. Both teams, therefore, are set to approach the match with depleted squads.
Reds Seek to Halt Losing Streak
Liverpool, having dropped their last two matches across all competitions, will be eager to recover the momentum that propelled them to the Premier League summit. With key players unavailable, Slot faces a testing task to maintain his side’s position at the top as the pressure mounts at Stamford Bridge.
