KOP CUP AND IT’S ALISSON WONDERLAND

ALISSON has urged Liverpool to grasp a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to be crowned world champions.

The competition is a huge deal in the Brazil keeper’s homeland and he remembers the celebrations when his former club Internacional won it in 2006. He is confident the Reds squad will be determined to win a trophy that has long eluded them despite being European champions six times.

Asked if it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, Allison said: “Yes, it is. It’s big for Brazilians but I think it’s bigger for who is playing in the game. If you’re on the outside of this competition, you don’t give it value.

“It’s elite, it’s just for the winners. Flamengo won the Libertadores. We won the Champions League, Monterrey won the CONCACAF. We have many other clubs who won big competitions. And we’re here.

“We’re making this big for us. This is important, to make history as the first time ever that Liverpool won it.

“You can feel how much Flamengo want this. They had more than 10,000 fans on Tuesday. But this isn’t just big for them, this is big for us also.”

Alisson (above) is one of two Brazilians who will start for Liverpool, with Roberto Firmino replacing the injured Fabinho. He added: “I’m excited to be here on this big stage, playing the Club World Cup.

“It’s a dream come true. When I was 14, my former club Internacional became Club World Cup champions and I watched it as a supporter. “I was so excited at that time. Then I started to dream of this.”