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Arne Slot sends Alisson Becker message after 'not normal' Liverpool situation
Arne Slot has admitted that Alisson Becker vindicated his decision to immediately reinstill the Brazilian in Liverpool’s starting XI following an eye-catching performance against Girona on Tuesday night. The shot-stopper has been sidelined since early-October because of a hamstring injury.
Caoimhin Kelleher has excelled in his absence, but that has not stopped the Reds head coach from remaining adamant that Alisson would remain his first-choice goalkeeper regardless of the Irishman’s impressive performances.
The 32-year-old enjoyed a busy night as he made his comeback in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Making a number of important saves, his clean sheet helped leave the Reds on the verge of securing their place in the round-of-16.
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And while Slot was still full of praise for Kelleher’s performances in Alisson’s absence, he hailed the Brazilian as the best goalkeeper in the world following his return from injury.
“Yes, Alisson made a lot of saves,” he said. “But I think if you make highlights of this game we will all see a few chances that we had as well, which is normal. What is not normal is that we concede so many chances.
“No, he definitely didn't (look like he had been away). I said a bit of a joke that maybe the players wanted to see how fit he really was, so to give him so much work.
“But, of course, that was not our plan. He showed again today why I said so many times that he's our first goalkeeper. That has nothing to do with Caoimhin [Kelleher] – he did so, so well.
“But Alisson has been so important for this club for so many years, for his country as well. [He] showed today that he's probably one of the best, in my opinion the best goalkeeper in the world.
“And let's hope he can keep continuing to bring these performances. Let's hope even more that he can stay fit.”
Meanwhile, speaking to TNT Sports before the game, Slot admitted that Liverpool had made sure not to rush Alisson’s return but are now confident that he is 100% ready to return, having already seen him suffer two muscle injuries this season.
“It feels really good (to have him back), first of all for him but definitely also for us,” he said. “He’s worked really hard to come back.
“We didn’t want to take any risks at all. That’s why we didn’t put him in earlier already. Now he’s, in our own opinion, completely ready to start fitness-wise.
“So it’s good to have him back, although I think everybody has seen how well Caoimh did for us also.”
