‘SMOKE DEATH HIT ME’
ALISSON’S MY ALL-TIME No.1 KLOPP’S THE LOT
BRUCE GROBBELAAR has backed Alisson to break all of Liverpool’s goalkeeping records.
And the former Anfield stopper, the Reds’ No.1 the last time they won the title 30 years ago, reckons he will be thrilled if or when the Brazilian climbs above himself and Ray Clemence in the history books.
Grobbelaar (below) kept 267 clean sheets in 628 appearances for Liverpool.
He won six titles as the club dominated English football in the Eighties, as well as three FA Cups and a
European Cup.
Clemence’s record stands at 323 clean sheets from 665 appearances, including a remarkable 28 in 42 matches in the 1978-79 season, a campaign in which he conceded just 16 goals.
Success
By the time he left Anfield in 1981, Clemence had won five Division One titles, an FA Cup, three European Cups, two
UEFA Cups and the Super Cup.
And while Alisson and his pals still have a long, long way to go to surpass, or even emulate, the success enjoyed by the teams Grobbelaar and Clemence played in, on an individual basis the 27-year-old has built himself a good platform with 40 clean sheets in 79 appearances.
Grobbelaar said: “If Alisson stays at Liverpool long enough he could break all the records that myself and Ray Clemence achieved.
“If he wants to stay at Anfield for a long time he will break all the records for sure and I would love him to do that.
“Alisson is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world and he deserves to be put on that pedestal. Him and Manuel Neuer are probably the best two when it comes to angles – those two are the very best in the world at getting their angles right, they don’t have to dive because they aren’t out of position.
“They are in the right place at the right time and they move their feet very well.”
Unsurprisingly, Grobbelaar loves what Virgil van Dijk brings to his old side as well. He added: “I played behind Phil Thompson and Alan Hansen, and they were both brilliant centre-halves.
“With Thommo, Jockey had to work a little bit harder because when Thommo made a mistake, he had to cover up quite a lot.
“When Thommo left, Jockey took up his role and we had Mark Lawrenson, who was quick, he had brilliant speed. “Now with Van Dijk, you have a cool head like a Hansen but he’s that quick like Lawrenson – he is both rolled into one. But what he does with his other centre-halves and other defenders is make them much better, and that’s the quality of Virgil van Dijk.
“Look at the two full-backs, Trent Alexander-arnold and Andy Robertson.
“They have gone up in their abilities and their prices have skyrocketed because he controls and makes them better.
“As a goalkeeper, playing behind a player like that is brilliant. Alisson must be licking his lips every time he goes out and has Virgil in front of him.”
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has admitted he takes celebrity seriously – after being hit hard by the violent death of US rapper Pop Smoke.
The American singer, 20, was shot and killed by armed intruders at his home in Hollywood in February.
Alexander-arnold said: “What happened to Pop Smoke was madness, he was literally about to blow. I was gutted about him. He was so young as well, I didn’t realise he was younger than me.
“Even when I was growing up you automatically think because people are famous they have it easy or just because they are getting paid a lot of money things are easy all the time and life’s so good.
“But people are still going through their thing. A lot happens even with celebrities. People are sometimes confused and shocked when things happen to celebrities or they go through mental health issues.
“But everyone is a normal person. We’re all born the same way, we all die and go through the same things.
“Just because a lot more people know who they are things can still happen to people.
“For me, it’s about understanding that everyone is a human and goes through the same things at some point.”
JURGEN KLOPP was the inspiration behind Trent Alexander-arnold’s corner-kick assist for the goal which took Liverpool to the Champions League Final last year.
Alexander-arnold outwitted Barcelona with the disguised, quickly taken dead-ball move finished off by Divock Origi to give Liverpool a stunning 4-0 win in last season’s semi-final second leg at Anfield and cap an amazing turnaround.
The defender explained: “Klopp
(right) gives you confidence in everything you do – it all comes from him.
“Whenever you see a player do anything like I did it is usually initiated by him. I don’t think people realise the messages he gives us. The motivation and the mentality we’ve all got is from Jurgen.
“He is the person that leads the club, makes all the decisions. The way we play and how the club does things – it is all about him.”
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has revealed the fear that drives him every day – not delivering his potential.
Having fought for a career as one of Jurgen Klopp’s chosen ones at Liverpool, the England full-back really is living the dream.
But the nightmare that lurks is looking back on his career – and knowing he could have done better.
At 21, Alexander-arnold has the football world at his feet for club and country.
But as he awaits his first Premier League crown, the right-back is contemplating sustained success and the prospect of legendary Anfield status – not a quick hit-and-run title medal.
“The thing that scares me most is wasted potential. I think that’s what motivates me more than anything,” says the Kop youngster.
“I don’t want to get to the end of my career and think ‘I should have done this or that in that season’ or ‘I should have worked harder or could have been better than what I am now’.
Legend
“I want to win everything for club and country and try and be a legend whenever that is possible.
“To be at the level of someone who is an amazing player, who gives his all on the pitch, made good things happen and made the fans happy.
And when it’s all finished I want to look back with a lot of trophies and memories.”
Alexander-arnold (below) was speaking before lockdown with
Youtube producer and model Rubi
Deschamps who went on a tour of his early life in
Liverpool with the defender for the video Behind the
Dream.
In four seasons since he burst on the scene as a 17-yearold, the youngster has racked up 125 games for Liverpool and already has a
Champions League medal in his locker.
Desire
And his desire to strive for more is no surprise to Ian
Barrigan, head of preacademy recruitment at Liverpool and the man who spotted the defender at primary school.
“He’s the most competitive lad I’ve ever met. If he plays a game of tiddlywinks it will kick off!
“As a schoolboy in training if it was too easy all you’d do is give a couple of penalties against his team.
“His mum Diane would phone and say, ‘Ooh, Trent hates you – he isn’t going to play for you ever again’, that’s what he’s like. He’s terrible.
“You could just tell generally that he was well above the standard of the other kids at the development centre straight away, within five minutes.
“Obviously his raw athleticism as well, he’s such an athlete and always has been. When he played in younger age groups at Country Park in the Walton & Kirkdale League he would score nine goals a game.
“So even when he was a baby and
THE YOUTH ACADEMY
really young he would dominate the game.we’ve found a big player.
“But I don’t think he has ever been cocky, he’s not got it in him,” added Barrigan.
Grounded
“He’s grounded, his family are all around him making sure his feet are on the floor so there’s no chance of being