Former Liverpool great John Aldridge has questioned Reds goalkeeper Alisson’s start to the season after his sending off on Saturday.
The Brazilian international was given a straight red in the 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last time out, and Aldridge believes he’s just not really gotten going.
“Alisson Becker has struggled a bit to get his Liverpool season going so far,” he wrote in his Liverpool Echo column. “He hasn’t been able to keep a clean sheet in the games he has played and was out for two months out with a calf injury at the beginning of the campaign.
“Alisson had a moment of madness against Brighton on Saturday, picking up a straight red card for a handball outside the area. Referee Martin Atkinson wasted no time, did he? Long term, though, he will be absolutely fine, I am certain of that. He is a class act between the sticks for Liverpool.”
OPINION
This has certainly been a tricky start to the campaign for Alisson. First there was the injury he suffered on the opening day which robbed him of the first couple of months, and now he’s suspended for three games. It must be frustrating for manager Jurgen Klopp to be without a player who is arguably the best at his position in world football for yet more game time, particularly in the busy month of December. However, that’s what happens when you punch a ball outside your penalty area. Aldridge seems to be taking a dig at Atkinson by saying he ‘wasted no time’ sending Alisson off. Well, John, that’s because it was about as straightforward of a red card as you’re ever going to see. Having said that, he’s right that Alisson will be fine. The former Roma man is a top quality ‘keeper, and he will come back from this and get back to top form once he gets a run of uninterrupted games.
