Alisson to miss vital tie against Atletico

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has been ruled out of next week’s crucial Champions League tie at home to Atletico Madrid.

The Brazilian sustained a hip muscle problem in training and is likely to be out until after the international break at the end of this month.

Jurgen Klopp’s side can get back to form when they face Bournemouth today after suffering three defeats in their last four games.

The Reds welcome the Cherries as they look to a set a new English top-flight record of 22 successive home league wins.

However, with a 22-point lead at the top of the Premier League, Wednesday’s last-16 second-leg tie at home to Atletico is of far greater concern following the Reds’ 1-0 first-leg loss.

Meanwhile John McGinn has stepped up his recovery from a fractured ankle to aid Aston Villa’s fight against relegation back to the Championship.

The Scottish midfielder has been out since December after suffering the injury against Southampton.

Villa have won just two of the nine Premier League games McGinn has missed and slipped into the bottom three last weekend while they were losing 2-1 to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

They travel to face Midlands rivals Leicester City on Monday and, while the Scotland international will not feature, he could be ready to face Chelsea at Villa Park next Saturday.

“He’s getting to where we want him to be and had a CT Scan to make sure there’s a full union of the fracture,” said boss Dean Smith.

“He trained with us, we’ve not had him training in contact sessions yet, he’s been involved in possession and shape work.

“He feels really good which is the important thing.

“He’ll be pushing me for Chelsea, that’s for sure.

“Once he gets on that training ground he’ll move quickly and he’s certainly progressing quickly now.

“Obviously, there will be a lot of pressure put on him because of the pressure on him before his injury, but we have to make sure he’s right when he actually comes back.”

The 25-year-old sat out Sunday’s 2-1 Carabao Cup final defeat to City as results in the league left Villa second from bottom – with a game in hand over those sides around them.

Jamie Vardy is expected to return to the Leicester squad for Monday night’s home clash with Villa.

The striker, who has scored 17 Premier League goals this season, has missed the last two matches with a calf injury but Foxes boss Brendan Rodgers is optimistic he will have his talisman back in contention.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says Kevin De Bruyne is making progress with his shoulder injury ahead of Sunday’s Manchester derby.

De Bruyne – who has scored eight goals and assisted 16 in the Premier League this season – was injured in the closing stages of the Carabao Cup final victory over Villa last weekend and missed City’s FA Cup win at Sheffield Wednesday in midweek.

Guardiola said: “He is getting better. I spoke this morning with the physio and he feels better.

“It’s not perfect but we will see.” Guardiola also believes Manchester United are enjoying their best spell of the season.

The Red Devils, who are bidding to complete a league double over City, have gone nine games unbeaten in all competitions.

“From what I saw they follow him

(manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer) absolutely.

“They’re getting better. “Right now is maybe their best moment of the season.”