Alisson back in Liverpool squad for Girona trip but Diogo Jota and Federico Chiesa miss out | OneFootball

Arne Slot’s table-toppers will have their first-choice goalkeeper back for latest Champions League outing

Liverpool have been handed an injury boost after Alisson and Diogo Jota both trained ahead of their Champions League trip to Girona.

The Reds have been without both players since October, with first-choice goalkeeper Alisson forced out of the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace with a hamstring tendon issue and forward Jota dealing with a chest problem since the 2-1 home victory over Chelsea.

However, both players have been stepping up their respective returns to fitness of late and were each involved as Arne Slot’s squad trained at Kirkby on Monday before they head to Spain. Alisson was subsequently named in the 19-man travelling squad, though Jota missed out.

Return: Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson was back in training on Monday ahead of Girona clash

REUTERS

The Italian winger has not featured at senior level since September, though did start and score as he played an hour for the Liverpool Under-21s in their dramatic Premier League International Cup defeat by Danish side FC Nordsjaelland at Kirkby last week.

Liverpool will definitely remain without centre-back Ibrahima Konate against Girona, while fellow defenders Conor Bradley and Kostas Tsimikas are also nursing injuries.

Alexis Mac Allister is banned for the match at Estadi Montilivi in Catalonia, having picked up three yellow cards in the Champions League so far this season.

The Argentine will also be suspended for Saturday’s visit of Fulham to Anfield in the Premier League having accrued five cautions in the top-flight, with that suspension supposed to be served against Everton on Saturday, only for the last-ever league Merseyside derby contest at Goodison Park to be postponed four hours before kick-off on safety grounds due to the adverse weather conditions caused by Storm Darragh.

Liverpool go to Girona sitting top of the Champions League standings with a perfect record of five wins from five against AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid, while Girona are 30th after just one victory and four defeats to their name so far during their maiden campaign in Europe’s elite club competition.

Girona are ninth in LaLiga after Saturday’s heavy home defeat by Real Madrid and are now winless in four matches, while Liverpool saw their seven-game winning run across all competitions ended last week in a thrilling six-goal draw at Newcastle before the postponement of the Merseyside derby - coupled with victory for Chelsea at Tottenham - saw their lead at the Premier League summit reduced to four points.

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