Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has defended Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker amid criticism of some of his recent performances.
The 28-year-old has barely put a foot wrong for the Reds since joining the Anfield side from Roma in 2018 for a then world-record fee for a goalkeeper.
Alisson has helped Liverpool win the Premier League, the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Supercup.
(Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
However, he has faced scrutiny after two errors resulted in goals for Manchester City as they ran out 4-1 winners over the reigning champions.
The £90,000-a-week man then slipped up against Leicester when he rushed out to clear the ball and missed, allowing Jamie Vardy to put his side in the lead en route to a 3-1 victory.
Liverpool face Everton on Saturday and go into the Merseyside derby on the back of a 2-0 win over RB Leipzig, Alisson performing well in the Champions League midweek clash.
When asked about his confidence in Alisson and whether the keeper is feeling okay mentally, Klopp was firmly behind his “world-class” player, saying the team could rely on him.
He told the Liverpool media team: My confidence, nothing changed in that if we talk about Alisson.
“But we are all human beings, Ali as well, and he showed that in the last two [league] games so thats how it is.
Its not a problem and of course its work but most of the work you have to do with yourself and he is doing that, definitely.
“Its not about telling him, Come on Ali, you are a world-class goalie – he knows that, but he doesnt get up in the morning and look in the mirror and think, What I see is a world-class goalie.
So if you made a mistake in the game before, in the previous games if you want, then its nothing you like.
“Humans are all the same and Ali is too smart to ignore it completely. Other personalities maybe would not struggle, thats completely normal.
But, in the end, we can rely – and he can rely as well – on his quality, on his attitude, on how focused he is in a game, how much he gives in a game and all these kind of things.
No, I was not one second in doubt. Ali, for sure, had not the best time between the two games [against Leicester and Man City], thats how it is.
“But the Leipzig game was a really good one to get back and there we are now.
(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
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You’ll struggle to find a football player who doesn’t have a poor run of form, and while Alisson did make mistakes in two big league games, he looks to have bounced back from those as he looked assured against Leipzig.
The odd error doesn’t nullify his incredible service to Liverpool, having helped them go from a nearly-there team to an all-conquering juggernaut, and while many things have gone wrong for the Reds this season, they’ll be back.
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has defended Reds goalkeeper Alisson Becker amid criticism of some of his recent performances. The 28-year-old has barely put a foot wrong for the Reds since joining the Anfield side from Roma in 2018 for a then world-record fee fo…
