Jan Molby on Alisson: “You get what you pay for”

Former Red Jan Molby believes Liverpool are reaping the benefits of spending big in the summer on Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson.

The last two No 1 goalkeepers (Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius) that have been brought in at Liverpool both cost under £10million, highlighting the lack of investment the Anfield club have put into such an important position on the pitch.

Jurgen Klopp decided to go against the grain in the summer that just went by signing Alisson for a transfer fee of £65million from AS Roma.

The decision has proved to be the right one, with the Brazilian making a number of important saves throughout the season thus far, the most notable being the one against Napoli on Tuesday night in the dying moments to secure Liverpool’s spot in the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Molby though believes Alisson’s impact has been more than just his ability to keep the ball out of the net.

“Goalkeeper is a position where we’ve had problems for a number of years and in the end what Jurgen Klopp has done is take the risk out of it and gone for the best available in Alisson Becker,” Molby wrote in his column for the Liverpool Echo.

“It’s an old and boring saying, but you get what you pay for.

“It’s much more than just your ability as a goalkeeper. It’s more the way you conduct yourself and the way you carry yourself. The influence you have on people around you, and by that I don’t just mean team-mates, I mean fans as well.

“A goalkeeper’s job is to keep the ball out of the net. Whatever way you do that is perfect.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 11: Alisson of Liverpool saves during the UEFA Champions League Group C match between Liverpool and SSC Napoli at Anfield on December 11, 2018 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photograph: Craig Galloway/ProSports/Rex/Shutterstock)

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“He has the ability to get himself in the right position to make the save or for the ball to hit him, that in itself is an ability and I don’t think you should underestimate that.

“You have goalkeepers who the ball never hits them because they’re in the wrong position. So positional play is not just for outfield players, the positional play of a goalkeeper is really important.

“There are angles to consider, and how to decrease the chances of a striker scoring against me. That’s what he does, he increases his chances of making a save.

“Criticism of John Acherberg and Liverpool’s coaches has always been a little bit harsh.

“You get the right people to work with and I’m sure the coaches are more than good enough.

“But we are reaping the benefits of having one of the best goalkeepers in the world and one of the best centre-halves in the world, that can only be a good thing.”

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Source: anfieldhq.com