JURGEN KLOPP has confirmed Alisson Becker has a “serious injury” but insists the Liverpool keeper COULD return this season.
The Premier League leaders have been relying on Caoimhin Kelleher since the Brazilian suffered a hamstring injury in mid-February.
Anfield boss Klopp said: “Alisson has suffered a serious injury, not a short one.
“There’s no real timescale on it, but it’s a real muscle injury. It’s not short.
“It’s a pretty serious injury, but NOT a seasonal injury.”
Alisson had to sit out the 3-1 home win over Burnley for the first time on February 10 due to illness.
He subsequently injured his hamstring and missed the next match seven days later, a 4–1 league win against Brentford.
Republic of Ireland star Kelleher, 25, has replaced the 31-year-old each time – plus three more wins since then.
A 4-1 success against Luton and Wednesday’s 3-0 FA Cup KO of Southampton – both at Anfield – marked his greatest achievement to date.
As a result, Kelleher produced heroics in the 1-0 Carabao Cup final victory over Chelsea last Sunday.
Liverpool now visit Nottingham Forest at the Prem on Saturday, a club that tried to sign him in January.
But Klopp has denied he had come close to selling Kelleher.
He said: “For me it was never a discussion.
“We talked about it, but for me there was no chance of him leaving, so I wasn’t interested in who asked.”