Liverpool games Alisson Becker will miss as Arne Slot delivers crushing injury update

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has delivered the crushing blow that number one goalkeeper Alisson Becker will be missing for most of the rest of the season owing to his serious muscular injury.

The Brazil international has been plagued by fitness problems throughout the campaign and picked up his latest issue prior to the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion before the international break.

Alisson had returned from a hamstring injury just a few days before against Galatasaray in the Champions League, but he confirmed on social media that his latest issue would sideline him for a "while".

The former Roma man was also not seen in training on Thursday ahead of Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final with Manchester City - unlike four other Liverpool injury victims - suggesting that he would not be fit for the trip to the Etihad.

Speaking in Friday's pre-game press conference, Slot announced the bad news that Alisson would be in the treatment room until towards the end of the season.

"Ali unfortunately isn't, he will not be part of the Paris Saint-Germain games as well," Slot said. "Towards the end of the season we expect him to be fit again."

Liverpool games Alisson Becker will miss through injury

While there is no firm timeframe/return date on Alisson's injury, the South American being out until "towards the end of the season" suggests that he will not be considered for selection again until mid-May.

As a result, not only will Alisson sit out Saturday's FA Cup quarter-final with Man City, but also both legs of the Champions League quarter-final with Paris Saint-Germain on April 8 and 14 respectively.

Liverpool host Fulham on April 11 in between those two fixtures - another game Alisson will miss - while four crucial Premier League fixtures with Everton (April 19), Crystal Palace (April 25), Manchester United (May 3) and Chelsea (May 9) ought to come too soon as well.

If Liverpool reach the Champions League semi-finals - held on 28-29 April and 5-6 May - the Brazilian should also sit out those contests, in addition to any FA Cup semi-final on April 25.

Alisson would not be a guarantee for the FA Cup final on May 16 or the Aston Villa clash on May 17 either, but the final-day Premier League game against Brentford on May 24 and Champions League final on May 30 could be realistic comeback dates.

Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue to guard the sticks in Alisson's absence, while Freddie Woodman will step up to number two over the next several weeks.

Liverpool receive triple injury boost after Alisson Becker blow

While the Alisson news was disappointing, the overall Liverpool injury picture is more positive, as Mohamed Salah and Jeremie Frimpong are both expected to be available for the trip to Man City.

Furthermore, long-term leg victim Alexander Isak is now back in team training following December's fracture, and Slot did not rule out the prospect of the £125m striker making the bench at the Etihad.

Federico Chiesa should also be in contention after he was pictured in training on Friday, but Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley and Wataru Endo are still in the care of the doctors.