Chris Kirkland has been sharing his praise for Liverpool goalkeeping coach John Achterberg and his influence at the Merseyside club.
Speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol, Kirkland was talked about the coaching staff Jurgen Klopp has around him at Liverpool and how valuable they are to the Reds’ success under the German’s guidance.
He said: “He’s got amazing staff around him. I know how hard John Achterberg works, the goalie coach. He’s made Alisson better since he’s been at Liverpool. John’s the first one in most mornings, last to leave.”
Asked if Achterberg is an unsung hero at Anfield, Kirkland was unequivocal in his reply.
“Massively,” he continued. “Listen, he’s been there years. He’s stayed there when different managers come in, and normally when different managers come in, they bring their own staff with them. So I think it speaks volumes for how highly he’s rated and I know how hard he works.
“I know how dedicated he is to Liverpool, [he] doesn’t leave any stone unturned, done his due diligence on Alisson. And [the] biggest thing is since Alisson has come to the club, he has got better and better – and that’s down to the goalkeeping department.
“He’s been amazing for Liverpool and rightly so. I think it’s over 10 years he’s been there now, which is a long time for a goalie coach for anyone, any coach in any club. So yeah, he deserves a lot of credit.”
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Achterberg was originally the goalkeeper coach for Liverpool’s U23 side from 2009 until he moved to work with the senior squad in 2011, where he still remains (per Transfermarkt).
As a player, Achterberg played in Holland with NAC Breda and FC Eindhoven before moving to England with Tranmere Rovers in 1998 where he played until he retired in 2009.
Looking at how Alisson Becker managed to keep 21 clean sheets for Liverpool throughout their 2018/19 Premier League campaign, this shows that Achterberg seems to have been a big help for the Brazilian shot-stopper, and it is no surprise that former Reds ‘keeper Kirkland has sung the Dutchman’s praises.