Liverpool are lucky enough to have a really strong goalkeeping department at the moment.
After years of uncertainty between the sticks, the Reds have had quite possibly the best goalkeeper in the world since 2018.
If Alisson Becker is not the best, then he’s certainly very close to it. The Brazilian has been a hit since just about day one at Anfield.
Beyond Alisson, Caoimhin Kelleher is a very able deputy and has a claim to being the best No.2 in the world at the moment.
It’s a far cry from six years ago, when Jurgen Klopp could not choose between Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius for who should be Liverpool’s No.1. Klopp knew a change was needed to take the Reds to the next level.
John Achterberg explains Jan Oblak decision
Having signed Sadio Mane in 2016, Mohamed Salah in 2017 and Virgil van Dijk in 2018, Klopp was slowly building the team that would go on to win the Premier League and Champions League for Liverpool.
The final piece of the puzzle was the goalkeeper. Mignolet never convinced Klopp while Karius had just suffered a meltdown in the Champions League final. Something needed to change.
Part of the team who’s opinion was sought to find the best possible solution was then head of goalkeeping John Achterberg.
Actherberg has only just left the AXA Training Centre after 13 years as Liverpool’s number one man for the No.1’s.
Now able to speak freely about certain goings on during his time at the club, the Dutch coach has spoken to Liverpool legend John Aldridge for the Aldo Meets Podcast.
READ MORE: John Achterberg reveals why Liverpool really sold Pepe Reina in 2014
And according to Achterberg, he told Klopp at the time that the only goalkeeper worth spending big money on was Alisson.
“I had made a list and at the end of the season and I said to the boss, ‘if you’re going to spend the money, the only one I would spend the money on is Ali,'” he says.
“People talk about Oblak, but I said ‘one, he cannot play with the feet, two he cannot play with space, because Atletico only play in their own half. He’s really good on the line but we need more than just one who’s standing on the line. He’s also 186cm so that could also be a risk in the Premier League.’
“So, I said that’s the only one I’d spend the money on.”
Will Alisson leave Liverpool?
There is little question that Achterberg and Liverpool made the right decision when buying Alisson over Oblak.
The Slovenian was possibly the best goalkeeper in the world at the time, but would perhaps not have suited the way Liverpool wanted to play.
Despite being a month or so younger than Alisson, Oblak has also regressed a little over recent years. He no longer feels to be on Alisson’s level.
It’s clear to us that Liverpool still have the better ‘keeper. But for how much longer? There have been plenty of claims that Alisson could leave Liverpool this summer.
While the 31-year-old still seems more likely to stay at Anfield, his absence from a video of Liverpool players returning to training on Sunday has supporters a little worried. Let’s hope it’s nothing.
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