Summer signing shows style to justify £65 million price tag

Liverpool summer signing Alisson Becker arrived at Anfield with a then world-record price for a goalkeeper but he has already begun justifying the £65 million price tag.

The Brazil international is only the third Liverpool goalkeeper in 51 years to keep clean sheets in the first three league matches of a season after Bruce Grobbelaar, Jose Reina and Simon Mignolet, who achieved the feat twice.

A late stop from substitute Pascal Gross ensured Mohamed Salah’s 23rd-minute goal secured a 1-0 victory and a third successive win as Jurgen Klopp’s side went top of the table for the first time since November 2016.

However, it is other aspects of the Brazilian’s game which have got people talking.

Klopp has already referenced Alisson’s aptitude with the ball at his feet, but it is something which is still taking some getting used to by fans who have grown accustomed to a nervousness bordering on panic watching previous goalkeepers deal with back-passes.

Klopp said: “Alisson is obviously a goalkeeper who can play football, which is good. He has a nice level of confidence.”

The boss defended his massive outlay on a 25-year-old goalkeeper.

He said: “We didn’t make the price. We only wanted a good player and the owners gave us the opportunity to do so.”