Jurgen Klopp confirms 'serious' injury as Liverpool dealt major Arsenal title race setback

Jurgen Klopp has provided an update on Alisson Becker, who has been sidelined for the last fortnight with a hamstring issue. The 31-year-old goalkeeper sustained the injury during a training session at Kirkby ahead of Liverpool's clash with Brentford earlier this month.

The Reds boss has previously suggested that Alisson could return shortly after the March international break, but his knock could be worse than first thought. The Brazil international will miss his fifth successive game when Liverpool lock horns with Nottingham Forest at the City Ground this weekend.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the Reds' trip to the East Midlands on Saturday afternoon, Klopp described Alisson's injury as a 'rather serious one'. While he's expected to be out of action for some time, the German claimed that his first-choice shot-stopper could return before the end of the season.

«There is no real timescale on it, but it is a proper muscle injury,» Klopp said. «Different players recover differently. That is it pretty much. It is not a short one. It is not that he will be in contention for next week or something like that.

»We have to wait a few more weeks, definitely, for him. He is working in the gym, not on the pitch, it is a rather serious one but not a season-ending injury."

League leaders Liverpool are two just points in front of Arsenal going into the weekend's Premier League action. Manchester City are second, a point better off than the Gunners.

In Alisson's absence, Caoimhin Kelleher has been given the chance to impress between the sticks. The 25-year-old has done well, playing a crucial role in Liverpool's win over Chelsea at Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.

Arsenal and Chelsea on red alert as Carragher and Richards make Osimhen