Klopp likes Alisson’s save more than his chip
Juergen Klopp said goalkeeper Alisson was "not cool" for a moment of audacious skill as Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the English Premier League by pipping Brighton & Hove Albion 1-0 yesterday morning (Singapore time), but the German quickly forgave his Brazilian star.
Alisson chipped the ball over the head of Brighton's Anthony Knockaert late in a slightly nervous victory. It was a bold move, and one which, given the disaster that befell his predecessor Loris Karius in the Champions League final in May, had some Liverpool fans anxious.
But the Brazilian, signed for a then-world record fee for a goalkeeper of £65 million (S$114m) from AS Roma this summer, played a perfect pass to Virgil van Dijk, clearing up the danger and drawing a huge cheer from the home supporters.
Alisson also made a stunning late save from Pascal Gross that ensured Mohamed Salah's first-half goal - after a flowing move involving James Milner, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane - was enough to secure the win, with Klopp admitting he was more in favour of the save than Alisson's skill on the ball.
"That's not too cool for a manager, but it worked so then it's cool," said Klopp.
"I've had a few centre-halves who were able to do things centre-halves should not be able to do - like Mats Hummels - and now I have Alisson. He is a goalkeeper but he can obviously play football, which is good."
Klopp said the confident Brazilian was not showing off but reacting to the situation.
"He will give more and more confidence, and he has a nice level of confidence himself as well," he said. "But I liked the save more than the chip, although the chip was the right thing to do in that situation, so that's fine." - AFP
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