Alisson on his injury recovery, 'special guy' Adrian and potential debutant Kelleher
Alisson Becker’s recovery from injury is progressing well, with Liverpool’s No.1 delighted to have taken a ‘massive’ step forward recently.
The newly-crowned Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper has been sidelined for nearly seven weeks due to a calf problem sustained against Norwich City on the opening day of the season.
However, no longer confined to sessions in Melwood’s gym, Alisson is now able to train outside and believes he is closing in on a return to action.
“I’m on a good way, I think we are nearly there,” the Brazil international told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I can go outside to the pitch to do some goalkeeper work and I feel very well. I feel confident and I think now it’s just about getting all my power, all my confidence to come back and do what I love to do.”
On the significance of being fit enough to work outdoors again, Alisson continued: “It’s massive because if I look back, two weeks ago I couldn’t even walk properly. Now I’m running, jumping on my right leg that was injured so I’m really happy for that.
“It’s great. When you are a player you want to have the contact with the ball, with the guys on the pitch, the routine of training. It’s what I love to do.
“The games, the atmosphere at Anfield, the away games, all games when I watch on the TV, I just think how I want to play, I want to be there, I want to help my teammates. I’m looking forward [to being back], I can’t wait anymore!”
Despite the absence of their first-choice goalkeeper, Liverpool have made a perfect start to the Premier League campaign, winning all six of their matches to date.
Alisson’s deputy Adrian performed superbly once again in Sunday’s hard-fought 2-1 victory at Chelsea, and the 26-year-old has welcomed the Spaniard’s presence both on and off the pitch.
“I think the boys are doing very well, all the team [and] Adrian especially,” Alisson said.
“He’s a special guy who came late in the season, he just came and shows everyone his value, not just as a player but as a person and that is the more important thing. He is doing very well on the pitch. I have peace to recover in a proper way so it’s better for everyone.
“You can see that [he has settled in well] on the pitch, you know a player just can play as he is playing if you are set up with the place, with the people, if you are happy here and you can see he is very happy here.
“He helped us to win a title already, he is helping us a lot in the games to win points. That is the most important thing for us in the season to achieve our goals.”
Meanwhile, Reds assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders confirmed on Tuesday that Caoimhin Kelleher is in line to make his first-team debut for the club in Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third-round tie with MK Dons.
And Alisson has backed the Republic of Ireland U21 international to make the step up to senior level.
“I hope so. I will be watching the game, supporting him,” he stated.
“He is a great guy - he’s not a boy anymore, he is becoming a man making I think his first official game for Liverpool. I hope he can just do what he does every day here in training.
“He is a serious guy who comes here and works hard, I think he’s improved a lot in the last year. Since I arrived here, I can see he is improving, he’s a guy who wants to learn, who just watches the older ones to learn some good things and yeah, I think he will do very well.”