Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Liverpool paid TOO MUCH for summer signing… but Klopp needed him - EXCLUSIVE
LIVERPOOL overpaid for their summer acquisition Alisson Becker, according to former Reds midfielder Jason McAteer, but the deal was worth it anyway.
Jurgen Klopp was in the market for a goalkeeper after Loris Karius’ disastrous Champions League final performance against Real Madrid.
The German shot-stopper made two howlers in Kiev which spurned Liverpool’s chances of winning their first European Cup since their miraculous 2005 comeback in Istanbul.
Klopp identified the position as a priority if the Merseyside club were to mount a title challenge this season, and secured Roma’s sweeper-keeper, Alisson, six weeks after the Champions League final.
The Brazilian cost £66.9million, smashing the 17-year record held by Gianluigi Buffon for the most expensive keeper in history, only for Chelsea to fork out £71.6m for Kepa Arrizabalaga on deadline day.
I think [Alisson] is the right man for the job for Jurgen and his philosophy
And McAteer admits Liverpool needed to pay whatever Roma wanted in order to get Becker in.
“There were areas of improvement to be made (in the summer). Certainly after the Champions League final it was apparent that the goalkeeping area was the number one position which needed addressing,” McAteer told Express Sport.
Speaking about the modern market, inflated by Neymar’s £200m move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, the 47-year-old continued: “I think the goalkeeper – like a centre-half or centre-forward – comes at a premium now.
“So, knowing Liverpool were in the market for a keeper put a premium on the transfer fee, but that’s the way it was.
“I think [Alisson] is the right man for the job – with Jurgen and his philosophy, he likes a keeper that plays out from the back and is comfortable with his feet.”
Alisson raised eyebrows in August after producing a nonchalant chip over Anthony Knockaert’s head in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Brighton.
But he was also at fault for Leicester’s goal in the Reds’ 2-1 triumph at the King Power after being dispossessed with the ball at his feet, a mistake which led to a goal.
He was signed alongside box-to-box midfielder Naby Keita, holding midfielder Fabino and winger Xherdan Shaqiri.
Tottenham and Liverpool legends place their bets before clash
Asked which signing was most important, McAteer replied: “The keeper.
“It’s an area that has been steadily improving over the last three seasons since Jurgen’s been there. Goals against Liverpool has improved.
“He’s commanding, good with his feet, an imposing figure and instils confidence into the back four.
Jason McAteer took on Tim Sherwood to launch 888sport’s new A Tenner Says campaign. To Take ‘Em On, visit www.888sport.com.