'Alisson deserves all the accolades - he has proved he's great'
Alisson Becker merits all the plaudits coming his way.
That’s the assertion of a legendary predecessor of the Liverpool goalkeeper, Ray Clemence, who has praised the Brazil international – who is aiming to add Copa America glory to his Champions League triumph with the Reds tonight – for his outstanding performances in 2018-19.
Alisson claimed the Premier League Golden Glove with 21 clean sheets as Jürgen Klopp’s side finished second with 97 points, and was a vital figure in the run to a sixth European Cup.
“He deserves all the accolades because of what he did last year,” Clemence, who made 665 appearances and won 12 major honours with Liverpool, told Sky Sports.
“I’ve not met him yet, hopefully I will at some stage, but he seems a very level-headed goalkeeper, not over-confident, but he’s got a good balance.
“He never seems to get flustered, the great goalkeepers always look in control of every situation. He has that ability to make saves other goalkeepers can’t make. But the great goalkeepers make the saves when the game’s tight, to keep them in it.”
The challenge now for Alisson – who has taken the No.1 jersey for the forthcoming season – is to reproduce such performances over numerous years, says Clemence.
He added: “He’s proved this year he’s a great goalkeeper. Truly great ones, the legends, continue to do that for the next five, 10 years.
“The word legend is thrown out without thinking, some of the players I was lucky to play with did it for six, seven, eight, 10 years – and that’s why they are so revered at Liverpool.
“But he’s had a great start. With foreign players, it’s partly down to how long they and their families want to stay at a club. Hopefully yes, but only they can make that call.”