Latest Liverpool injury news after Alisson and Hugo Ekitike blows amid Arsenal title race twist

Liverpool head to Stamford Bridge this weekend desperate to halt a slump in form. The Reds have suffered back-to-back defeats to Crystal Palace and Galatasaray over the last few days.

Last weekend's shock loss to the Eagles - combined with Arsenal's thrilling victory over Newcastle - has handed the Gunners a golden opportunity in the title race. A mounting injury crisis at Anfield could prove crucial for Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who welcome West Ham to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Just two points now divide Liverpool and Arsenal in the Premier League standings going into the weekend's fixtures. Arne Slot and his Liverpool squad picked up fresh injury concerns during Tuesday's Champions League clash with Galatasaray, reports Football London.

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Here's the latest fitness bulletin ahead of Liverpool's clash at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening...

Alisson

Liverpool's biggest worry in Turkey centred around their first-choice goalkeeper Alisson. The Brazilian seemed to sustain a problem during the second-half on Tuesday evening.

Medical staff attempted treatment but their efforts proved futile as he was soon substituted for Giorgi Mamardashvili. And as a result, Slot has already confirmed the Brazilian will miss this weekend's fixture.

He said: "Alisson going off. That's why we do need to rotate a bit. It's never positive if you go off like this. You can be sure that he's (Alisson) not playing on Saturday, so let's wait how long it is going to take. But he is definitely not going to play on Saturday."

Potential return date: Unknown.

Hugo Ekitike

Slot was also handed a concern regarding the fitness of striker Hugo Ekitike. Having been ruled out of the Palace clash through suspension, he was poised to make his Premier League comeback this weekend.

However, after picking up a knock, he could also be on the sidelines. Discussing his injury, Slot said: "He felt something when he had to reach for the ball, I think we all know which moment it was.

"When we were trying to force something, I thought I can't get that long of a time, on the other side there was someone on the floor as well, the referee blew his whistle and I wasn't really thinking that we had an injury, but Hugo felt something.

"And after the game, that's always the difficult thing with these moments, when players feel like, oh, it's not too bad, but when you just walk around with something different, and when you make a spin, you have to shoot another one from the target. He said he couldn't continue, so we had to take him off. Let's see how he responds."

However, it is claimed Ekitike is confident that the incident was just a showing of cramp rather than a pull or a tear. James Pearce of The Athletic wrote on social media: "Hugo Ekitike confident he only had cramp in his hamstring rather than anything more serious."

Potential return date: Unknown.

Federico Chiesa

On a brighter note for Liverpool, Italian winger Federico Chiesa could make his comeback against Chelsea. He was omitted from the travelling party for the journey to Galatasaray but might be fit enough to feature this weekend.

Slot said: "He got a little niggle, I think it is the word you use here in England, in the last game against Palace. He tried it today, he was on the pitch in the beginning, but he couldn't end the session, so we decided not to take him because in a few days it's Chelsea again."

Potential return date: Saturday, October 4 (Chelsea, A).

Giovanni Leoni

One player who is certain to be be absent for Liverpool's clash against the Blues is talented young defender Giovanni Leoni. The Italian is currently sidelined with a long-term knee injury and is expected to remain out for the rest of this campaign.

Slot said: "He is not in a good place because he tore his ACL, which means he will be out around a year. Being so young and coming to a new country and playing so well in your first game, it's very hard to take the positives.

"But you try to look at that, and that is that he is still so young, and he has so many years still to go after he recovers."

Potential return date: Next season.

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