Harry is out for 11 matches
JAMES MILNER believes that Alisson is a key factor in Liverpool’s defensive excellence this season.
The Reds have the meanest back-line in the
Premier League, and while Virgil van Dijk has rightly received praise,
Milner (right) reckons his keeper is another stand-out performer.
Asked who has caught the eye in a recordbreaking campaign, the versatile veteran said: “He’s been unbelievable: From how he is around the place, to how good he is on the pitch with his feet and with the saves he makes.
“Coming to a new league is never easy. It’s a new lifestyle and you are also getting used to the weather and things like that.
“Every single player makes mistakes and sometimes as a keeper you maybe feel a bit different because mistakes often result in a goal.
“But if he makes a mistake it doesn’t faze him in the slightest and he remains confident and continues playing as if nothing has happened. That’s so important.
“He’s been unbelievable for us this season and I believe he’ll be a massive, massive player for us going forward.” Milner himself will play a hugely important role for the Reds in the coming weeks, after Trent Alexander-arnold picked up a knee injury at Brighton.
The right-back (below) will be ruled out for up to a month after tweaking ligaments, but the problem doesn’t require surgery, and the young England player may just miss three games. Boss Jurgen Klopp will refuse to panic despite letting Nathaniel Clyne leave for Bournemouth on loan. He sees Milner as a vital influence and is keen to give him game-time – and being next in line as back-up to both full-backs allows that. Georginio Wijnaldum has a knee injury, but could make Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace. yesterday. The 25-year-old tweeted last night: “Injuries are part of the game but no one will be working harder to get back fit. Thanks for the messages.”
The England captain’s injury all but ends the north Londoners’ slim title hopes. It also leaves their top four and Champions League ambitions in the balance.
Spurs will be without Kane (above) for next week’s second leg of the EFL Cup semi-final at Chelsea – and the final on February 24 should they go through – as well as the FA Cup fourth round trip to Crystal Palace.
With Son Heung-min at the Asia Cup with South Korea and Vincent Janssen not in Mauricio Pochettino’s plans, the club are now reliant on 33-year-old Fernando Llorente – a striker they had been willing to sell this month – to lead the line.
Spurs could now scrap their plan not to sign anyone in this window and get involved in the chase for Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson. Chelsea and West Ham are already interested.
Son, who has scored 12 goals, could be unavailable until February depending on how far South Korea progress. The final is on February 1.
Kane injured his left ankle when he was caught by United’s Phil Jones and Pochettino said after the match: “It was a clear foul, a big hit. Referee Mike Dean said he didn’t see it.”
Gareth Southgate will also be monitoring Kane’s fitness with England facing the Czech Republic (March 22) and Montenegro (March 25) in Euro 2020 qualifiers.