Klopp reveals what made him almost abandon Alisson pursuit

Oli Fisher

Image: liverpoolfc.com

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has explained why he almost gave up on the chance to sign star goalkeeper Alisson.

The Reds made Alisson the most expensive goalkeeper in world football when signing him from Roma for £56m last month.

The Brazilian has since been replaced by new Chelsea shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga, but has taken Loris Karius’ position as Liverpool’s starting keeper.

Klopp says that might never have been the case after Karius’ high-profile mistakes in the Champions League final.

“We simply identified another keeper, who is better, and signed him,” he told Kicker.

“I didn’t tell Karius what he wanted to hear, but how it is. The Champions League final had nothing to do with us getting Alisson. Even if he had won it and Alisson would have been on the market we would have still signed him.

“How the people reacted negatively to Karius after the final, tried to isolate him, almost made me not get Alisson and rather stick it out with Karius. But we had to be professional. Our job is to have the best players on every position.

“[Karius] is now 25, at an age, in which keepers keep improving. All the best keepers make mistakes. But sometimes timing is important in life. If Loris makes a mistake now it isn’t cool. In eight years nobody will care. We are totally happy with him.”

 

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