Let’s talk about an unhappy memory for Alisson. After
the game against Brighton, Jürgen Klopp said you are
in the exact position where you are supposed to be and
that nine times out of ten you clear the ball, but one
out of ten you handle it outside the area and are sent
off.
Yes in my own words, when something like this happens
we ask questions of ourselves. Was I in the right position?
But I tend to play further up the field outside of the area
to support my team-mates. The through ball was perfect
with the weight coming off it as it came down, so it didn’t
gain momentum when it bounced. In fact the opposite
happened and it sat up a little. I was already in what we
goalkeepers call ‘no man’s land’ and I tried to block the
ball but it was a bit to one side and that was my reaction
as we’ve been talking about here. If you play a ball by me,
I am going to stick my hand out because my reactions are
goalkeeper reactions. I handled the ball and was sent off.
As Klopp said, these things happen. I’ll save ten balls in a
one-on-one with the attacker and every once in a while
this will happen though I’ll work towards it not happening
again.
Then when you came on, Adrian, Brighton scored from
the free-kick while you were lining up the wall...
To be totally honest with you I still cannot understand it,
because it’s the first time I’ve seen anything like it in my
professional career - that a referee signals to take the kick
when neither the wall nor the goalkeeper are in position. It
was difficult too for me, as I was coming into the game on
a cold early evening and I hadn’t warmed up. I had to get
going by organising the wall for a dangerous free-kick just
outside the box. The referee decided at that moment to
blow for the kick to be taken, giving them the advantage,
when I wasn’t ready. At the end of the day we have to
accept it, it was the ref’s decision. I was happy in the end
because we won the game, but it could well have cost us a
couple of points.
What characteristics impresses you about the other as
a keeper?
ADRIAN: I’d say that Ali is a very complete goalkeeper.
Keepers have to be excellent in many different aspects of
the game. He is very good with his feet and he has that
calmness that goalkeepers need. He’s physically strong
and powerful, he’s quick, he re-adjusts and gets back in
position really well and the bottom line is our defence
helps us whenever we’re playing. He’s also been supported.
On a personal level, he’s a top guy, and of course when we
play with our defence in front of us, that helps us greatly
too.
ALISSON: As Adri said, together with the ability he has as
a goalkeeper, he’s been playing in the Premier League for
almost a decade, and no-one gets to play that long in the
Premier League for nothing. So he has the qualities in all
the aspects a goalkeeper requires. He’s very good with the
ball at his feet and has improved further being here as it’s
something this team demands. But his main quality for me
is his solidity and confidence. When you think about the
circumstances, he came into the team at a very difficult
moment. We were a settled side and I got injured, so it was
a challenging scenario. I imagine he didn’t think he would
be coming on that soon and he put in great performances
which demonstrates the confidence he has in his ability.
With his contributions on the pitch he’s demonstrated the
things that come naturally to us – very good positioning
which is fundamental for a goalkeeper. And, like me, he’s
someone who likes to put the work in. His arrival has
added a lot to our team.