Alisson ruled out of decisive Atletico match after training injury

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is ruled out of Wednesday’s crucial Champions League home leg against Atletico Madrid after picking up an injury in training, the club confirmed Friday.

“Muscle, slight, in the hip region. A small muscle,” manager Jurgen Klopp said of the injury, which was suffered ahead of the team’s midweek FA Cup loss to Chelsea. “You (reporters) could all do your work still but a professional goalkeeper is slightly different. That’s the situation.”

Alisson was subsequently left out of the Brazil squad for the national team’s World Cup qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru at the end of March. His lack of availability for those fixtures indicates he may also miss Liverpool’s meetings with Everton and Crystal Palace before the international break and won’t return to fitness until April.

The 27-year-old, who’s widely dubbed as one of the world’s best goalkeepers, has kept 14 clean sheets across 28 matches in all competitions this season. Backup Adrian, by comparison, has only three clean sheets in 16 outings.

Jordan Henderson is still sidelined for the Bournemouth tilt, but Klopp seemed more positive about the captain’s involvement in the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie with Atleti. He said the midfielder “has a chance” to overcome his thigh problem for that game, according to Thomas Mallows of BBC Sport.

Liverpool enter the reverse fixture against Atletico Madrid with a 1-0 disadvantage. Saul Niguez scored the only goal during the first leg as the Reds failed to register a shot on target at the Wanda Metropolitano.