MY ED TOLD ME TO MOVE STAT ATTACK

Boys from Brazil in North West City’s No.1 said pal Al would be happy on Merseyside

ALISSON’S older brother Muriel, 31, is also a goalkeeper. After coming through the ranks at Internacional in Brazil, he now plays for Belenenses in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

NEW Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has revealed how Man City stopper Ederson urged him to complete his world record move to the Premier League.

Alisson says he spoke to The Etihad star about the Premier League as Liverpool and Roma negotiated his £66.8million transfer.

Ederson is Alisson’s main rival for Brazil’s No 1 spot and now the pair will also be in direct competition in England. And despite rivalry on the pitch, the pair are pals off it – and Alisson says he consulted Ederson, along with the other Brazilians in the Premier League, before signing. “Yes, we spoke,” he said. “I actually spoke to all the national team players who play in the Premier League, asking about what the league is like and the style of play.

“It’s one thing watching it on the TV but being involved in it every day is another thing.

“I only heard good things. If not the biggest, the Premier League is one of the biggest leagues in the world. “It’s very competitive and I find that exciting.” Naturally Alisson, who kept five clean sheets in his seven Brazil games this summer, rang Roberto Firmino and his samba pal told him he would be happy on Merseyside. “I spoke to him before things really started to happen,” he said. “When the negotiations became official, I spoke to him and I only heard good things about the club and the city. “He is a player who feels really at home here. He’s loved by the fans and popular with his team-mates. He said if I were to come here, I’d be really happy as well.” Alisson, 25, will also be loved by the fans if he can reproduce the form he displayed last season for Roma as he helped them finish third in Serie A and reach the Champions League semi-finals.

Alisson was ranked among the top three keepers in European football – above Ederson – in terms of total saves (155), save percentage (79.3 per cent) and successful passes (1,125).

He is the epitome of the modern-day sweeper-keeper, which explains why Liverpool had to smash the world record transfer fee for a No.1 to prise him from Roma.

Reds fans hope he will be the final piece in their title jigsaw and former Roma goalkeeping coach Roberto Negrisolo has hailed him as the “Messi of goalkeepers”.

“I look to work on all aspects of my game, always aiming for perfection and looking to improve every day,” said the South American.

“I’m quick to come off my line. I’m an agile keeper despite being tall. I’ve got very good agility and strength in my legs.

“With the ball at my feet, I like to get involved in the play. I think my style will fit in very well here.”

Despite these strengths, he still conceded seven in Roma’s two European clashes with Liverpool and he admits he is relieved he is now on the same side as Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

“I’m really happy about that,” he said. “It’s tough being up against them – and not just them, it’s the whole team.

“They had a great year, I felt the strength of the group – and there aren’t just three players, there are 11 players as well as the players coming off the bench.

“They showed a lot of desire to win, so it’s exciting for me to have the three of them up front to win games.”