Alisson: Liverpool Look Ready
Rafael Benitez once claimed that managing a small club was akin to owning a short blanket. In a chat following a match, he told the former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray, that a small blanket is of no use to anyone. You can cover your head to keep out the cold, but it will leave your feet sticking out, or, you cover them up and leave your head exposed to the elements. Ultimately, a short blanket will always be cold.
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Is Alisson Becker the Final Piece of the Jigsaw?
The signing of Alisson Becker is a massive statement of intent by Liverpool Football Club. The goalkeeping position has long since been a weakness at Liverpool since Pepe Reina pre-2010. The club has, up until now, failed to replace who I believe was one of the best goalkeepers that Anfield has ever seen.
The club has spent money normally reserved for attacking players on the world’s most expensive defender and the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.
Thankfully with the signing of …
Alisson Becker: A Statistical Analysis
Alisson is one of the most coveted goalkeepers in the world, but Liverpool's new number 1 is a relative newcomer to top-tier club football. What has set him apart from other top goalkeepers across the world?
In AI's Transfer Committee podcast, @DanKennett collected and analysed a selection of goalkeeping statistics, illustrated in the graphic below. Whilst in AEyeScouted, Dave Hendrick, with Gags Tandon, discussed potential goalkeepers. Jan Oblak seemed Dave's first choice, although an upfront payment of £89m made this particular …
Alisson the latest addition for Big Money Reds
You awake on a secluded Sardinian beach to a warm Mediterranean breeze and gentle waves lapping at your feet. Your gorgeous wife flashes you a smile as she updates her Instagram. You glance out at your sailboat and notice a bottle has washed up on the shore. Shaking out the rolled up paper, you rub your eyes and squint at the handwriting...
Get the ale in lad, and get yer bird ready. You're a Red now!
We assume such a …
Is the Alisson transfer really a statement of intent from FSG?
NOPE. Simple. It's not. I am done here. You can move on now
But wait, you say, how come? A world record fee bid for a keeper. Potentially getting in one of the best keepers in the Serie A and current Brazil #1. If there ever was a statement of intent, surely this is it?
Well, what exactly is a statement of intent? It's when you dramatically change the way you behave in order to achieve a certain objective. The …
The Karius Conundrum
Liverpool have made huge strides under Jurgen Klopp on and off the pitch; the German’s infectious touchline antics have fuelled a strong feeling of togetherness between the fans and players. Then there’s the enhanced decision making in the transfer window, the cohesion between Michael Edwards and Klopp and a surge of optimism that this side is quietly worming their way towards some silverware.
Yet, Klopp remains imperfect.
Loyalty is a powerful thing. Used in good proportion, it provides players with …
The Hard Task Of Replacing Loris Karius
The Champions League final has just finished. Loris Karius walks to Liverpool supporters in tears and apologises for a catastrophic performance, in the last 45 minutes his mistakes allowed Real Madrid to comfortably beat Jurgen Klopp’s side. The dream of conquering Europe is over.
For many Liverpool supporters, these scenes seem to still define German goalkeeper’s season. Journalists seem to have a similar view on the matter since virtually every decent goalkeeper in Europe is getting linked with a move …
Klopp Runs Rule Over Karius as GK Search Cools
The World Cup in Russia is far from over but Liverpool’s pre-season is officially underway. Jurgen Klopp is without his full complement at Melwood, but this week the process of guiding his new additions and delegating a squad role to each player will begin.
It will, of course, be key to integrate incomers Naby Keita and Fabinho, but Klopp’s most important task this pre-season concerns his incumbent no. 1: he must make a rational and well-informed decision on the much-maligned …
Prioritising the Market - Analysing Liverpool FC's Weaknesses
So there’s a consensus amongst Liverpool fans about which positions the club will look to – and must – strengthen this season. The five positions that need to be addressed – or at least considered – this summer were: goalkeeper, centre-back, defensive-midfield, attacking-midfield and back-up winger. Essentially, we’re looking to replace Karius, either upgrade on Lovren or provide another option to rotate with him, replace Emre Can, replace Phil Coutinho, and provide some support to Mo Salah and Bobby Firmino …
Asensioooooo... is probably just looking for a new contract
Picking up the paper Wednesday morning in Madrid, the headline made me spit out my coffee... OK, tinto verano. “180 Milliones por Asensio,” read the top of the page. Unfortunately underneath that it read “MARCA,” which is not the most reliable publication in the world for transfer news. It falls somewhere above Don Balon and below your Uber driver's twitter feed on the reliability scale.
Liverpool? This is not the moment to talk about this. - Marco AsensioMarco Asensio …