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"I don't think we'll play" | Fabinho or Alisson unlikely to play against Watford

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho expects himself and Alisson to miss out on Saturday's Premier League...



Soccer

"I don't think we'll play" | Fabinho or Alisson unlikely to play against Watford

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho expects himself and Alisson to miss out on Saturday's Premier League trip to Watford.

Both are in the Brazil squad for Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in Manaus, which kicks off at 1.30am on Friday morning UK time.

Alisson and Fabinho both played against Venezuela and Colombia during this international window and if they feature against Uruguay, it's just 35 hours before Liverpool's game against Watford.

"I believe that this first match against Watford, it will be very hard for us," Fabinho said.

"I don't think we'll play. Neither Alisson nor myself.

"The match against Uruguay will be Friday overnight there (in the UK) and the match against Watford is at 12:30pm (Saturday).

"With all of what is involved with travel, I don't know how much time we'll have between one game and the other.

"I believe that we won't be playing."

Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher is set to deputise in goal for Alisson, while Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will have to rejig his midfield due to the absence of Fabinho.

Liverpool are due to travel to Spain next week to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and Fabinho revealed the club have considered flying the pair directly out to the Spanish capital instead of returning to England to enter a 10-day quarantine period.

He said: "We will also need to quarantine, but the club is still studying whether it is better to go straight to Spain to play against Atletico and quarantine there, without staying in a hotel in England."

The UK government removed Brazil from its red list for travel but Colombia and Venezuela are still on the list, which means footballers will have to serve a 10-day quarantine period even though they are permitted to leave isolation once a day to train or play.

Atletico were due to face Granada in La Liga this weekend but the game has been postponed due to the absence of the South American players.

Real Madrid will also have the weekend off after their request to postpone their league game with Athletic Bilbao was granted.

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Alisson Becker Brazil Caoimhin Kelleher Fabinho Jurgen Klopp Liverpool Premier League Vicarage Road Watford