Former Liverpool striker John Aldridge has made the odd claim that new Reds’ goalkeeper Alisson could play outfield after displaying the required skills.
The £77,000-per-week [Spotrac] shot-stopper impressed Aldridge with his technical footwork, which was highlighted when he outskilled Brighton winger Anthony Knockaert in his box during the two sides’ clash on Saturday evening.
Since usurping Loris Karius as the club’s number one, the 25-year-old has been fairly solid in between the sticks, apart from the few times he has been nearly caught out when passing the ball to his defenders in the last three matches.
“The goalkeeper has been compared to Bruce Grobbelaar after some of his footwork outside the area, not least his casual chip over [Brighton’s] Anthony Knockaert during the second half,” he wrote in his column for the Liverpool Echo.
“I played alongside Grobbelar and in training he’d be playing outfield in five-a-side all the time. He was a really good footballer and he would hardly ever go in goal. I wouldn’t be surprised if Alisson is the same. He looks like he can play outfield, no problem.”
OPINION
This is a bold claim made by the former Liverpool forward, as it is not often that a goalkeeper is touted to play outfield. However, after the skill Alisson displayed in the clash with Brighton, he has only reinforced the fact that he is more than capable of doing so. He has certainly proved why he is one of the most expensive goalkeepers in the world, and he has undoubtedly shown that he is real value for money with his skill. Not many keepers have the skill to outplay someone operating as a winger, let alone the confidence Alisson had to do it. Jurgen Klopp has really got himself a versatile player here, but it is unlikely that he is suddenly going to play him outfield after paying all that money for his goalkeeping services. Nevertheless, it gives Liverpool an edge over their rivals, as there is no doubt that they have one of the best keepers in the league in their ranks.
