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Liverpool transfer news: Craig Bellamy makes Alisson prediction over Premier League title
LIVERPOOL's new goalkeeper Alisson will be the best signing of the summer if Jurgen Klopp’s side can live up to their potential this season.
Liverpool: Alisson stuns with 50-yard pass to Mo Salah
The Reds appear to have addressed a long-term with the addition of the highly-rated goalkeeper, who they paid around £65million to sign from Roma last month.
That was after intense speculation linking Liverpool with a move for Brazil’s No 1, who was also linked to Real Madrid and Chelsea.
Liverpool supporters were crying out for a new shot-stopper following Loris Karius’ blunders in the Champions League final last season, which the Merseyside club lost to Real.
Karius followed that up with a tumultuous pre-season and another comical error against Tranmere Rovers in a friendly.
Klopp made his move to sign Alisson for a then-world record fee for a keeper - since beaten by Chelsea’s £72m capture of Kepa Arrizabalaga - little over a week later.
And the arrival of the 25-year-old in addition to the signings of Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri have seen Klopp’s Liverpool tipped to compete with defending champions Manchester City for the 2018-19 title.
That is also the belief of ex-Reds winger Bellamy, who insists his former club - who he also supports - simply had to go all out to sign Alisson.
Asked to suggest who will be the best signing of the summer, Bellamy told The Debate on Sky Sports: “I was looking at Liverpool with the goalkeeper because it was so important for me that they got a goalkeeper.
I felt for Liverpool to have any chance of challenging, they had to address that and they did.
“I was concerned. I thought he [Klopp] was going to stick with Karius even though what happened [in the final].
“But I felt for Liverpool to challenge and to have any chance of challenging, they had to address that and they did.
“They paid a lot of money for him but I’m sticking with him. I think he might have the biggest impact.
“We saw it with Manchester City last season.
“Different scenario, different players, different team, different manager but if Liverpool can have the season we’d like to believe they could have because of their success in the Champions League, this goalkeeper is going to be huge.”
Karius meanwhile took to social media yesterday to thank Liverpool fans for the warm reception greeted to him during their friendly win over Torino on Tuesday night.
The German replaced Alisson for the final 20 minutes of Liverpool’s 3-1 victory in their final pre-season friendly and came on to the pitch to huge cheers and a standing ovation.
Karius said on Twitter: “Thank you Anfield for this reception! #YNWA #LK1 @LFC” alongside a video of the fans’ reception.
Alisson, meanwhile, will make his competitive debut for Liverpool when they host West Ham at Anfield in their Premier League opener on Sunday (1.30pm).