Chris Kirkland delivered the one-word reaction of ‘wow’ in response to his verdict on Alisson after being invited to watch him train at Liverpool’s headquarters.
The former Anfield number one headed to Melwood recently on the invite of John Achterberg, Liverpool’s goalkeeping coach, to assess the Brazilian at close quarters.
“Wow!” was Kirkland’s reaction to Goal. “I don’t think he let a goal in during the session. It really was incredible to watch. I wouldn’t swap him for anyone at the minute, and I include David De Gea in that. He’s the best in the league now, for me.”
OPINION
Liverpool’s owners spent their first few years spending relatively low-ball fees on potential stars of the future. It worked a treat with some deals, most notably the £132million profit yielded on Philippe Coutinho, but plenty of others failed to make much of a mark. In recent years, Fenway Sports Group have operated at the top end of the market. It is starting to pay off spectacularly, with signings such as Virgil van Dijk and Alisson. It seems you really do get what you pay for. Like Van Dijk, Alisson is a mega-money signing who has taken no time at all to acclimatise. The hulking Brazilian’s save percentage is 86% – the best in the league – and he is winning matches for his side through the brilliance of his shot-stopping. What is impressing as much as his reflexes and wonderful athleticism is his mentality and timing. With a rock-solid defence in front of him, Alisson doesn’t have huge amounts to do, but when called upon, he delivers the goods. His concentration, such a key attribute for top-level goalkeepers, is clearly outstanding.