Jurgen Klopp says Alisson’s recovery is progressing but did not offer a timescale on his return to action.
He was, of course, forced off in our opening league game against Norwich with a calf problem.
It was suggested at the time that the Brazilian would be out for ‘a few weeks’.
And Klopp’s answer when asked for the latest news suggested the club were being cautious.
“He [has] made steps, of course, but it was a proper injury, so it will still take time,” he said in his pre-Burnley press conference.
“How it always is with professional sportsmen, when you have a muscle thing and it takes long, then it takes a while as well until you can bring the muscle to at least the same level it was before.
“A calf muscle is pretty important for jumping – and for a goalie, it is quite important that you can jump from time to time, so it will take time.”
It looked for a moment as if emergency signing Andy Lonergan would have to deputise after back-up option Adrian injured his calf in the post Super Cup melee.
But Klopp is relieved that the Spaniard is fit and is satisfied with his no.2’s performances despite the absence of a clean sheet.
“But, thank god – and hopefully it stays like this – we have a fit Adrian in the back and now in charge, which is good.
“So far, I am really happy with everything I saw.
“He is a good guy, which is important as well, but most importantly of course he can catch balls and that’s good as well.
“The solution we found for it is really good, but of course it would be better if Ali was around but that will take still some time.”
To speculate for a moment, Klopp’s reluctance to set a date might suggest that we either don’t have one in mind – unlikely given the level of expertise available – or that the period on the sidelines will be slightly longer than feared.
Either way, we can be hopeful of further progress for Alisson over the upcoming international break.
The return of our elite ‘keeper will help to settle a defence which has looked uncharacteristically jittery on one or two occasions.