How will Liverpool fare without Alisson?

Liverpool have suffered a significant injury blow with reports suggesting that Alisson could be out until after the next international break in November.

The Brazil goalkeeper suffered a hamstring injury in Liverpool's 1-0 win at Crystal Palace on 5 October and was replaced by Vitezslav Jaros after 79 minutes.

When asked about Alisson after the victory against Palace, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot said: "We have to wait and see, but it is going to take a few weeks I assume for him to be back. I think it is [his hamstring]." 

When Alisson has been injured in recent years, Caoimhin Kelleher has deputised.  The Republic of Ireland goalkeeper missed the match at Palace with illness, which is why third-choice goalkeeper Jaros played, but is to step up again.

We look at what changes for Liverpool when Kelleher starts instead of Alisson.

Is Alisson's injury a huge blow?

The statistics show that Liverpool do not seem to suffer too much when Kelleher has replaced Alisson in the Premier League.

In the 16 Premier League matches Kelleher has started, Liverpool's win percentage is a bit higher than when Allison HASN'T started - 68.8 per cent, compared with 66.7 per cent.

As a result, the Reds have averaged more points per game with Kelleher in the starting line-up (2.3 compared to 2.2 with Alisson), having won 11 and drawn four of those 16 matches, losing only one.

Liverpool's average goals scored is also higher when Kelleher starts instead of Alisson, averaging 2.8 to 2.1 goals. However, Liverpool concede fewer on average with Alisson in goal (0.9 goals a match), compared with the 1.1 goals that Kelleher concedes on average.

Liverpool's stats when Alisson or Kelleher start

How do Alisson and Kelleher's stats compare?

When diving deeper into the two goalkeepers' stats, as the table below does, it shows that while Alisson has a better ratio of clean sheets per match (43 per cent of matches, compared with 31 per cent), Kelleher has actually prevented more goals per game.

Kelleher has on average prevented 0.23 more goals than he is expected to have done so, compared with Alisson's average of 0.11.

Kelleher has had to do more saves on average than the Brazilian (3.3 per match against Alisson's 2.4) and has a better save percentage.

Alisson and Kelleher's PL stats

Alisson and Kelleher's 2023/24 stats compared

Liverpool's testing period

Liverpool have made an excellent start to the season under Slot, winning six of their first seven league matches to lead the standings.

If reports of Alisson not returning until 24 November are correct, he will miss a tough run of seven matches, which includes three of the top five sides in the league, as well as challenging fixtures in the EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League.

Slot's first match after the international break is at home to Chelsea, who are fourth under Enzo Maresca. Liverpool then will travel to Germany to face RB Leipzig in the Champions League before visiting title rivals Arsenal. They then face high-flying Brighton & Hove Albion twice in four days, before another trip to Germany to face the Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen.

Their last match before the November international break is at home to top-four rivals Aston Villa. 

Liverpool's next seven matches