Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted he was only focused on the short-term future of goalkeeper Alisson Becker and that was getting him back into the team after injury.
The Brazil international has been sidelined for over a month with a hamstring injury – his second of the season – and this week was linked with Juventus, even though the club have taken the option to extend his expiring deal by 12 months.
Alisson’s unavailability has become increasingly more of an issue and that has been thrown into sharp focus with Giorgi Mamardashvili ruled out by a gashed leg sustained in last week’s Merseyside derby victory.
It means 29-year-old third-choice Freddie Woodman is set for his full Premier League debut for the club, having come off the bench against Everton.
“I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible,” said Slot on the future of Alisson, who was “close” to a return, according to the head coach.
“All these rumours that are out there about him and about probably me and about others, we don’t react to.
“We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment.
“The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for and then he wants to be in goal for the country he loves to play for, that is Brazil.
“I think that is already the short and mid-term future.”
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