Liverpool in huge title blow as Jurgen Klopp confirms Alisson has ‘suffered a serious injury, not a short one’

JURGEN KLOPP has confirmed Alisson Becker has a “serious injury” – but insists the Liverpool keeper CAN return this season.

The Premier League leaders have been relying on Caoimhin Kelleher since the Brazilian suffered a hamstring problem in mid-February.

Rex

Alisson’s absence could dent Liverpool’s hopes of staying top[/caption]

Anfield boss Klopp said: “Alisson has suffered a serious injury, not a short one.

“There is no real timescale on it, but it is proper muscle injury. It’s not a short one.

“It is a rather serious one, but NOT a season-ending injury”.

Alisson first sat out the 3-1 home win over Burnley on February 10 with illness.

But he then hurt his hamstring and missed the next match seven days later, a 4-1 league triumph at Brentford.

Republic of Ireland star Kelleher, 25, deputised each time for the 31-year-old on each occasion – plus three more victories since then.

A 4-1 success against Luton and Wednesday’s 3-0 FA Cup KO of Southampton – both at Anfield – sandwiched his greatest achievement so far.

That saw Kelleher produce star man heroics in last Sunday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea.

Liverpool now visit Nottingham Forest in the Prem on Saturday – a club who tried to sign him in January.

But Klopp has denied coming close to selling Kelleher.

He said: “For me it was never a discussion.

“We spoke about it but for me there was no chance of him leaving so I was not interested in who was asking.”