Chelsea and Arsenal are next up for Liverpool in the Premier League but Slot's side has a fresh injury blow to contend with.

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has already warned Arsenal and Chelsea over potential hopes that a significant injury blow to his Merseyside club could make the Reds easier to beat in upcoming Premier League fixtures after the international break.

The Dutchman saw first-choice shot-stopper Alisson limp off after 79 minutes against Crystal Palace at the weekend, the Brazil international visibly 'fuming' at picking up a hamstring injury. Alisson was replaced by 23-year-old Vitezslav Jaros, who made his Liverpool debut, with Caoimhin Kelleher absent from the matchday squad due to illness.

Alisson faces weeks out with injurySpeaking about the injury after the match, Slot said: "It's going to take a few weeks. The latest is we don't know. It means he's not in the Brazil squad and I don't expect him to be in the team in the first game we play afterwards."

The international break therefore comes at an ideal time for Alisson, with Liverpool having two weeks before their next Premier League action. The Reds then welcome Chelsea to Anfield and then visit Arsenal before the end of the month, with a trip to RB Leipzig in Champions League action between those clashes.

Widely regarded as one of the world's best goalkeepers, the absence of Alisson - who cost Liverpool PS67 million from AS Roma in 2018 - could boost Chelsea and Arsenal hopes for a result against an in-form Liverpool. However, in previous interviews, Slot had warned opposition not to underestimate Kelleher.

'Really good' second choice could face Chelsea and ArsenalThe Republic of Ireland international, who had wanted to leave Liverpool this summer in search of more game time, has filled in for Alisson twice so far this season. One of those included a head-turning performance in the 3-0 win over AFC Bournemouth.

Speaking after that game, Slot said: "We needed our goalkeeper today more than in all the other matches we played before because, like I just said, Bournemouth got more chances than I am used to seeing the other teams getting against us in the first six games of the season.

"But it was a good thing that we had Caoimhin today because he made some really good saves - which Alisson [Becker] did in the other games as well, but he didn't have to make that many as Caoimhin made today."

'It's normal' - Slot on Kelleher transfer requestThat wasn't the first time Kelleher has earned Slot praise. Following his transfer request in the summer, the Liverpool boss said: "I would be worried if a player said they didn't want to play first-team football and wanted to stay on the bench for life.

"It's normal but it's also normal that a club like this that competes for trophies has more than 11 who can play. So it is about helping the team when they have to and Caoimhin has shown many times that he is ready when we need him. It's a good thing he wants to play. It's clear Alisson is No.1 but it's a normal situation to be in and he has handled it really well."