GEORGIAN ON THEIR MINDS...

Now it's the turn of Mamar to repeat the heroics of previous Alisson stand-ins

- By IAN DOYLE

THEY were both sights with which Liverpool supporters have grown accustomed over the years.

But while there was a relief at Alisson Becker pulling off another one-v-one save to deny Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen on Tuesday night, what immediately followed filled Reds fans with an all-too-familiar anguish.

Alisson immediately holding his hand in the air requesting treatment is an increasingly regular image for a goalkeeper who has had his previous two campaigns hampered by injury problems.

Indeed, it was almost a year ago to the day the Brazilian pulled up at Crystal Palace with a hamstring complaint and subsequently wasn’t seen for 12 games.

The Reds will hope his latest absence doesn't prove as lengthy, although head coach Arne Slot painted a gloomy picture when instantly ruling Alisson out of Saturday’s testing Premier League trip to Chelsea.

It says much that of the 20 times Liverpool have faced the Londoners since Alisson arrived at Anfield in the summer of 2020, he has missed six through injury or illness.