The international break has come to an end for Liverpool with the final eight senior players to return injury-free, though Alisson was certainly kept busy against Bolivia.
Alisson remains Brazil’s undisputed No. 1, and despite having already secured their place in next year’s World Cup, Carlo Ancelotti stuck with the 32-year-old against Bolivia.
The Selecao were odds-on favourites to win, even with the match being played 4,000 metres above sea level – but Alisson had a busy night and ultimately only conceded from the penalty spot.
Bolivia had 23 shots, 10 on target, compared to Brazil’s 10 and three, respectively, with Miguel Terceros scoring the winner in first-half stoppage time for Bolivia.
Alisson was forced into making nine saves, testing him at every angle as you can see from FotMob‘s graphic (below).
Statistically, he was Brazil’s best player, according to FotMob, having earned a rating of 7.8-out-of-10, but Liverpool will just be happy to have their No. 1 back injury-free.
He played the maximum 180 minutes over the September break on top of the 270 to start the Premier League, and Arne Slot will hope his availability continues long into the season.
Alisson‘s last injury-free season was in 2022/23, he played 47 times for Liverpool that campaign for a total of 4,230 minutes.
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Mo Salah and Co. return without injury
Mohamed Salah concluded his international duties by playing 90 minutes in Egypt’s goalless draw against Burkina Faso, and crucially, he came out unscathed.
The same could not be said for Man City‘s Omar Marmoush after he was forced from the pitch only nine minutes into the fixture with a knee injury.
Salah has flown directly back to Merseyside ahead of the Liverpool squad reuniting for training on Thursday.
Wataru Endo, unused in Japan’s final outing against the USA, will be available to Slot, as will Ibrahima Konate and Hugo Ekitike after France’s 2-1 win over Iceland.
Konate played the full 90 minutes, whereas Ekitike was introduced in the final minute of stoppage time and thus failed to get a touch after replacing Michael Olise.
Alexis Mac Allister, meanwhile, was deemed ‘not 100% fit’, but he started and played the full match as Argentina drew 1-1 against Ecuador in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Finally, Dominik Szoboszlai and Milos Kerkez both started in Hungary’s 3-2 defeat to Portugal, with a late goal from Joao Cancelo denying the hosts a draw.
Although Kerkez was withdrawn on minute 90, there is no suggestion that it was due to a knock or injury of any sort, meaning Slot should welcome back his full contingent on Thursday.
Liverpool return to action against newly-promoted Burnley on Sunday afternoon, the Clarets have won one and lost two of their opening games on return to the top flight.