Federico Chiesa is able to start for Liverpool against West Ham on Wednesday night, but Alisson Becker will not be involved.
The summer signing from Juventus is building up his fitness after moving to Anfield late in the transfer window and not having much of a pre-season.
The Italy international has made just two brief substitute appearances so far for the Reds and manager Arne Slot says he is still not ready to play a full 90 minutes, however, he is ready to start in the Carabao Cup clash with the Hammers.
‘I don’t think he’s able to play 90 minutes, he only played 25 as a maximum in the last three, four or five months. I don’t think he played any friendlies at Juve as well,’ Slot told a press conference on Tuesday.
‘But he’s able to start in our opinion, if he will, let’s see. There are many options we have. He’s able to start in our opinion, but I don’t think he’s able to play 90 at the level we are playing tomorrow against a strong West Ham team.’
Chiesa came off the bench in the 3-0 win over Bournemouth on Saturday to make his Premier League debut, but Alisson missed the game through injury.
Caoimhín Kelleher filled in for the Brazilian and he will do so again on Wednesday at Anfield, although there is hope that Alisson will return on Saturday evening when Liverpool go to Wolves.
‘It’s sure that Caoimhin will be in goal tomorrow,’ said Slot. ‘Alisson is getting there but I think this game is coming just a bit too early.
‘We are looking at the weekend against Wolves but it’s going to be tight so let’s see if he manages to be there, but he will not be there tomorrow. Caoimhin will be in goal tomorrow. That’s the one thing I know for sure at this moment.’
Slot was impressed with Kelleher as he kept a clean sheet against the Cherries, saying: ‘I wasn’t surprised at all at his performance. He was very good in pre-season already.
‘It’s a good thing for us because we have two really good goalkeepers and our third one (Vitezslav Jaros) is also a really strong goalkeeper. It was pleasing to see he kept a clean sheet. He had to act a few times but he did it really well.’
