Liverpool star Fabinho reveals he and Alisson will MISS game against Watford because Brazil play just 35 HOURS before kick-off… with club deciding whether the duo should quarantine in Spain before facing Atletico Madrid
- Liverpool are back in action against Watford 35 hours after Brazil play Uruguay
- Fabinho and Alisson are currently away on international duty with Brazil
- The midfielder believes neither he or Alisson will be available for Watford
- He added the club are deciding whether the duo should then travel to Spain
- The Reds travel to Spain to face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday evening
Liverpool star Fabinho believes that neither he or Alisson will be available for Jurgen Klopp’s side, in their Premier League clash against Watford at the weekend.
The Reds could briefly go top of the table, should they beat the Hornets in the lunch time kick-off on Saturday afternoon.
However, they are likely to miss the Brazilian pair who are still away on international duty and set to face Uruguay at 1.30am British time on Friday morning – just 35 hours before kick-off at Vicarage Road.
Fabinho is on international duty with Brazil who play Uruguay 35 hours before Liverpool kick-off at Watford
Speaking to Brazilian press, Fabinho has admitted he can’t see himself or Alisson taking part in the game due to the quick turnaround required to participate.
He also claimed the club are deciding whether they should stay in a hotel in England while they quarantine, or whether they should stay in Spain before the Reds face Atletico Madrid on Tuesday.
The midfielder said: ‘I believe that this first match against Watford it will be very hard for us, I don’t think we will play. Neither Alisson or myself.
Fabinho says both he and Alisson (pictured) will likely miss the Reds’ clash against Watford
‘The match against Uruguay will be Friday overnight there (in the United Kingdom) and the match against Watford will be half past noon.
‘With all of what is involved, travel, I don’t know how much time we will have between one game and the other.
‘I believe that we won’t be playing. We will also be in quarantine, but the club is still studying whether it is better to go straight to Spain to play against Atletico Madrid and quarantine there, without staying in a hotel in England.’
Fortunately for Jurgen Klopp’s side, Roberto Firmino will be available for the game against Watford as he was surprisingly left out of the Brazil squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela, Colombia and Uruguay.
Brazil is still on the red list in the UK, meaning that if Fabinho and Alisson were to travel to England after international duty, they could play and train with Liverpool but would be required to stay in a hotel.
Jurgen Klopp’s side are deciding whether the pair should quarantine in Spain before they play Atletico Madrid next week
There is a fitness boost for Liverpool ahead of the weekend, as the Reds are expected to have Trent Alexander-Arnold and Diogo Jota available.
Alexander-Arnold has missed the last two games with a muscle injury while Jota was sent home from international duty while away with Portugal.
Liverpool were said to have had a request refused by the Premier League to push the game against Watford back to an evening kick-off to give the Brazilian duo a chance of competing.
Klopp previously spoke about the scheduling issue before teams broke off for international duty.
Roberto Firmino will be available after Brazil decided not to the call the striker up for duty
He said: ‘Obviously nobody thought about that (scheduling) yet and it’s a Liverpool problem, not a problem for anybody else.
‘Good for Watford and all these kind of things, but I just don’t know how you can do these things and nobody reacts on the schedule.
‘The schedule is always a problem but it’s like the TV guys and the Premier League just say “Ok, that’s how it is, they have to play”.
‘Let’s have a look at how we can sort that. It’s another thing that’s not good for the players and not good for the clubs as well.’