Jurgen Klopp: Alisson, Joel Matip, Xherdan Shaqiri to Miss Salzburg Clash in UCL

Rory Marsden @@roomarsdenFeatured ColumnistOctober 1, 2019

Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp attends a press conference at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north west England on October 1, 2019, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group E football match against FC Salzburg. (Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP) (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)

LINDSEY PARNABY/Getty Images

Goalkeeper Alisson, centre-back Joel Matip and winger Xherdan Shaqiri will all be unavailable for Liverpool's UEFA Champions League Group E clash against FC Red Bull Salzburg at Anfield on Wednesday.

Manager Jurgen Klopp confirmed ahead of the fixture that Matip picked up a knock in Liverpool's 1-0 win at Sheffield United on Saturday, and the Salzburg fixture comes too soon for Alisson, who was injured on the opening day of the Premier League season against Norwich City:

BBC Merseyside Sport @bbcmerseysport
Klopp rules out Allison for tomorrow night, but says he will be assessed for Leicester and will be ready for Manchester Utd. #LFC #UCL

BBC Merseyside Sport @bbcmerseysport
Matip and Shaqiri unavailable for tomorrow. Matip “not a big one” but Klopp doesn’t know if he’ll be available for Saturday v Leicester. #LFC #UCL

The fact that Alisson is near a return for Liverpool and could turn out for the Reds against Manchester United after the international break is a big boost for Klopp.

Adrian has deputised impressively in the Brazilian's absence, and the German manager will be confident he can continue his fine form for another game or two.

Matip's absence, on the other hand, is a blow, given he has been a reliable regular alongside Virgil van Dijk in the centre of Liverpool's defence this term:

Goal @goal
Virgil van Dijk makes all the headlines... But nobody is getting past Joel Matip right now 💪 https://t.co/S82mmXs8cu

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Joe Gomez will likely come in as the Cameroon international's replacement, and the 22-year-old is an accomplished player.

However, he could be short on sharpness given he has only been afforded 91 minutes in the Premier League this term.

Salzburg may look to target Gomez and, if fit, the in-form Erling Haaland will relish the opportunity of challenging himself against Liverpool's defence after netting a hat-trick against Genk in the Champions League last month:

FIFA.com @FIFAcom
🇳🇴 Only player to net 9⃣ goals in an #U20WC game 👨‍🎓 Youngest to score a 1st-half hat-trick in Europe 3⃣rd-youngest to net a @ChampionsLeague treble after Raul & Rooney 1⃣7⃣ goals in 9⃣ games for 🇦🇹 Salzburg this term 😱 Alfie-Inge Haaland, your boy is absolutely frightening❗️ https://t.co/MvyWCPlkZS

Despite their fitness issues, though, Liverpool will be strong favourites to pick up a win against Salzburg and bounce back from their opening-round defeat at Napoli.