Ray Clemence has tipped Alisson Becker to become a Liverpool great after an outstanding first season at Anfield – if he family remain happy in England.
Club legend Clemence likened the Brazilian’s effect to that which Virgil Van Dijk had once the defender joined the club in 2017.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Clemence said: “He’s proved this year he’s a great goalkeeper. Truly great ones, the legends, continue to do that for the next five, 10 years.”
“But he’s had a great start. With foreign players, it’s partly down to how long they and their families want to stay at a club. Hopefully yes, but only they can make that call.”
Alisson, on a reported £90,000-per-week [Source: Spotrac], has had a great season in all competitions this season, winning the Golden Glove award in the Premier League, Champions League, and the Copa America.
The Brazilian international became only the fifth keeper in Premier League history to register 20 clean sheets in a single campaign last season.
OPINION
The impact that Alisson has had since arriving in Merseyside has been nothing short of miraculous. The Brazilian international has instantly shut out the bad memories of keepers such as Loris Karius and Simon Mignolet in the space of a single season at Anfield. Clemence is right, should Alisson stick around at Liverpool, he would continue to be one of the world’s best and easily considered a Reds’ legend. To earn three Golden Glove awards in a single season only highlights his importance to every side he plays in. Pepe Reina is one of the club’s recent legends in terms of goalkeepers, with the Spaniard keeping 20 clean sheets in the Premier League on two separate occasions, should Alisson go one better in the next couple of campaigns, there is no disputing where he ranks in terms of keepers at Anfield, and that would be top. The former Roma stopper suited Jurgen Klopp’s possession-based style perfectly, with the 26-year-old averaging a pass success rate of 80.3%, despite the fact he attempted 4.8 long balls per game. [WhoScored] That means the ‘keeper only fails with one pass in every five attempted, even though he has to take frequent goal-kicks. Should Alisson continue in this vein of form, not only will he go down as a Liverpool legend, but one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football.
