Alisson ruled out of Liverpool Champions League game
thetimes.com · Paul Joyce, Northern Football Correspondent
Monday March 09 2026, 1.12pm, The Times
First-choice goalkeeper will miss match away to Galatasaray through injury, meaning Giorgi Mamardashvili is likely to start round-of-16 first leg in Istanbul
Alisson will miss Liverpool’s Champions League game with Galatasaray having complained of discomfort after Monday’s training session.
The goalkeeper has not travelled to Istanbul with the rest of Arne Slot’s squad, which amounts to an untimely injury setback. Giorgi Mamardashvili is in line to deputise.
While the problem is thought to be minor, Liverpool decided not to risk the fitness of the Brazil No1, who has already suffered separate issues this season.
It is too early to say whether he will be available for Sunday’s home game against relegation-threatened Tottenham Hotspur.
Alisson was injured in the Champions League 1-0 loss away to Galatasaray back in September when he suffered problem in the second half of the game. He was then absent for the next seven weeks.
That allowed Mamardashvili to have a run in the first team, but he has made only one appearance for Liverpool since the end of November which came against Barnsley in the FA Cup third round.
Since then, Slot — who was also without Federico Chiesa at training at the club’s AXA HQ on Monday — has used Alisson in the competition, including last Friday’s 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Alisson’s contract contains the option to extend for a year which would cover next season and Mamardashvili has spoken of the need to remain patient.
“My ex-goalkeeper coach, Jose Manuel Ochotorena, when I was in Valencia told me I had to find balance between ambition and patience,” Mamardashvili said.
“So, keep working hard and you never know when your chance is coming. It’s, of course, never easy because there is just one goal. But as I said, if I don’t play, I don’t mind, I have to work hard every day and that’s it. My time will come, for sure. Maybe not this year but my time will come.”
Liverpool’s defeat in their League phase against Galatasaray came when Victor Osimhen scored a 16th-minute penalty after Dominik Szoboszlai, who was playing at right back, was adjudged to have caught Baris Yilmaz in the face with his hand.
Slot will be hoping for an improved performance and has Florian Wirtz fit after the Germany international returned at Molineux after a three-match absence.
Hugo Ekitike is expected to start in attack after being rested against Wolves to avoid overloading him with minutes. The France international has spearheaded Liverpool’s frontline in the absence of Alexander Isak, who is recovering from a broken leg sustained in December.
