Liverpool have confirmed goalkeeper Alisson will miss Saturday’s game with Burnley through illness.
Jurgen Klopp revealed during Friday’s press conference that a sickness bug had picked its way through the Liverpool squad and several players would face late fitness tests ahead of the meeting with Vincent Kompany’s side.
Footage of the Liverpool squad out on a pre-match walk was picked apart on social media and Alisson was nowhere to be seen, and now the Reds have confirmed he has been suffering with the flu.
In his place, Caoimhin Kelleher starts his third Premier League game of the season and just the eighth of his career. He last featured in December 2023 in a 2-0 win over Sheffield United, having also started the 4-3 win over Fulham just days earlier.
Alongside Alisson, Liverpool are without versatile defender Joe Gomez, who is also battling sickness.
The absence of Gomez leaves Liverpool incredibly short at the back. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson start at full-back – both are recently back from their own fitness woes – but there is a return to the bench for Kostas Tsimikas, who has also been battling injury. Conor Bradley remains away for personal reasons.
At centre-back, Virgil van Dijk starts with young Jarell Quansah but there is also no senior options on the bench, with Ibrahima Konate suspended and Joel Matip injured.
Academy goalkeeper Fabian Mrozek is on the bench but there is no defensive cover aside from Tsimikas.