ALISSON WONDERLAND
As two goalkeepers who cost £137M clash today at Stamford Bridge, Liverpool’s new No.1 says the role is changing and that it’s about time his position was recognised as vital to the team
THE art of goalkeeping is changing and Alisson has only to look at his price-tag to recognise it.
Keepers used to be a sideshow, the crazy guys at the back who were generally bought for a pittance. Yet tonight the two at Stamford Bridge will have a combined value of £137million, putting them among the 20 costliest footballers of all time.
What the hell happened this summer, when Alisson’s £66m worldrecord fee for a keeper was obliterated within days by Chelsea’s £71m capture of Kepa Arrizabalaga?
The Kop star has a ready-made answer.
“Goalkeeper is a very influential position in the team and that is becoming recognised now,” the 25-year-old Brazilian said.
“Things have changed recently. Making yourself available for the ball when needed, technical ability, and communication with the team are becoming increasingly demanded of goalkeepers in world football.
“It’s not just the technical qualities they need but the leadership qualities to help out the team, and their communication skills too. Of course I am really happy with the increased recognition that goalkeepers are getting now andI’m glad to be a leading part of that.”
Both Kepa and Alisson cost more than goalscorers like Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. It is a sign of how important a keeper playing from the back now is – and how few are able to do it.
Yet Alisson (thwarting Spurs star Harry Kane, below) has already come a cropper, gifting a goal to Leicester by trying to be too clever and unleashing a storm of criticism.
“The secret of the wise man is to learn from the errors of others. However, in the Leicester game it was my error,” he said. “I do take some risks and leave it late to play the ball but I’ll stop taking these risks in the Premier League because of the different style of play, the physicality, and the different refereeing styles.
“I’ve locked myself in my room and wanted to be on my own a lot in my career but I don’t do that any more! I am more mature today so I deal better with the mistakes. But if you look at my professional history as a goalkeeper I’m not somebody who makes many mistakes.
“My game is characterised by consistency and that is what has brought me to Liverpool and helped me grow and develop. I like to make simple saves. I don’t make Hollywood saves for the camera.”
Since the drama at the King Power, where he says the ball was held up in the grass, Alisson has been a little more cautious and has lumped the ball up the pitch more readily.
But he’s clever enough to know Liverpool didn’t pay so much for a mere shot-stopper.
Just like Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Chelsea’s Maurizio Sarri, Kop gaffer Jurgen Klopp is a manager who demands a footballing keeper.
“I am working on playing with my feet so I take risks with the ball at my feet because I am waiting for options,” Alisson went on.
“I am hoping that a space for a pass will appear at the last moment. That’s what happened in the Leicester game.
“The only option was to dribble, and if the ball hadn’t held up in the grass I think it would have been successful. But that was a real learning curve for me about the Premier League. Today I will take fewer risks.”
Chelsea and Liverpool paid far more for their keepers than they did for their centre-forwards and Alisson said: “Tmes have changed.
“I appreciate some people think that it’s a crazy, absurd amount of money. I understand that. But I’m calm about it.
“It doesn’t affect me or what I do on the pitch. I think more about what I can give back to the club for the faith they have invested in me.”