Maybe it’s a coincidence, but the decision to shave off his iconic beard has coincided with a potential injury setback for Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker.
The Brazil international has been an ever-present so far this season and starred in Tuesday night’s 3-1 Champions League victory against AC Milan.
Sporting his trademark facial hair, Alisson made several crucial saves as the Reds began their European campaign with an important win at San Siro and bounced back from last weekend’s shock defeat against Nottingham Forest.
On Thursday, however, the 31-year-old emerged for a training session cleanshaven, much to the devastation of many Liverpool fans.
‘As if my week weren’t stressful enough, Alisson has now shaved his beard off, what even is life anymore,’ bemoaned one crestfallen fan.
‘Annual Alisson injury, if he kept his beard this wouldn’t have happened,’ added another anxious supporter ahead of this afternoon’s game against Bournemouth.
Another fan, meanwhile, couldn’t believe the difference the lack of a beard made to the superstar’s appearance and said: ‘Alisson is the only person who looks younger with a beard what is this man.’
Will Alisson play for Liverpool vs Bournemouth?
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot, meanwhile, does not believe their fixture list so far is anything out of the ordinary so has not contributed to goalkeeper Alisson’s potential absence this weekend.
The Reds’ No.1 did not appear for the section of lunchtime training which was open to selected television cameras.
Ahead of the visit of the Cherries, Liverpool’s third match of seven in 22 days, Slot said he did not believe the demands of the campaign were currently unusual and the only significant difference between England and Europe’s other major leagues was the festive fixture list.
‘In Holland we also have Eredivisie, so we (Dutch teams) also play games at the weekend and also play Champions League and Europa League so we also play in the week,’ he said.
‘There is only one difference and that is the upcoming week when we play the League Cup so until now I’ve not seen anything I wasn’t used to at my former club.
‘The Premier League has four extra games compared to the Eredivisie and also the League Cup, that’s the main difference, but from the start until now I think we have played as many games as my former club and hat’s not an issue for me.
‘But the main difference between the Premier League and every other league in Europe – and you all know – is we have to play during Christmas and new year. In those moments that is the biggest difference between this league and all the other leagues.
‘AC Milan had to play the weekend, they have to play Tuesday and they will also play the weekend.
‘But the strength of the league, the quality of the league, the quality of Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth that is much higher than if you play an Eredivisie team that doesn’t play for the top-six positions. That is where it makes a difference.’
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