LIVERPOOL MANAGER JURGEN Klopp said he expected a blunder from new £65 million (€73 million) goalkeeper Alisson Becker, but hopes the Brazilian number one and the rest of his side learned their lesson in winning 2-1 at Leicester on Saturday.
Klopp’s men moved to the top of the Premier League with a perfect record of four wins from four games thanks to first-half goals from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
However, the visitors gave Leicester hope when Alisson was caught trying to dribble past Kelechi Iheanacho and the Nigerian squared for Rachid Ghezzal to score the first goal Liverpool have conceded this season.
Klopp warned after last weekend’s 1-0 win over Brighton that he wasn’t happy with some of Alisson’s risk taking when trying to play out from the back.
We all have to learn from that, not just him. It was clear from last week that I thought it would happen. I didn’t think it would happen during the next match but we could have cleared twice the situation before,” said Klopp.
“He knows it was his mistake of course, he’s man enough to accept that. I told him the best game to do it was this one, because we won it. It’s all fine now and we’ve ticked that box as well.
“We don’t need to play all the balls back to Alisson, but he showed how cool he was after that when the crowd was trying to make him nervous.”
Despite a perfect start in terms of points, Liverpool are still to hit the heights they did in the second half of last season in reaching the Champions League final.
However, midfielder James Milner hailed the reds’ new-found ability to grind out results, which will be needed if they are to dethrone champions Manchester City and deliver a first Premier League title to Anfield for 29 years.
Massive (result). It wasn’t a good performance in most aspects; pressing defending, keeping the ball, it was tough work. Sometimes in the Premier League you have got to win ugly and we did that,” said Milner.
“We are in as good a position as we can be after four games, won them all. But it is a long season, a lot more to improve. I’m pleased with how we have defended, but there is more to come from this team. It is early days, no one has hit top gear.”
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Firmino should be in the team of the year never mind alternative team. Been brilliant for Liverpool and I’m by no means a Liverpool fan
@Mel Roberts: Definilty, he’s been fantastic.
Lascelles from Newcastle has been outstanding all season. Would have him in at the back. As has Mee from Burnley.
@David OfBrien: They should do an Alternative Alternative Team of the Season.
@Alan J. McKenna: or maybe look outside of the top 6 clubs for a change. Tarkowski and vardy are the only players selected from clubs outside of the top 6.
@David OfBrien: The best players tend to come from the clubs that, you know, perform the best in the season. And you tend to find those at the top of the table. Sorry if that sounds radical.
@Alan J. McKenna: Not radical, just not very intelligent or well thought out.
Many players have performed outstandingly over the season with teams not at the top level, making their performances even better, compared with the likes of Otamemdi for example.
The top teams might have the best players, but it’s a competition for the players who’ve played the best over the season, and those should be considered.
Nice try though.
@James SonofLochlann: took the words right out of my mouth.
Andy Robertson every day of the week, most improved player and what a bargain!
Valencia in for azpilicueta without any question !
Even though Chelsea had a poor season Kante is better than Matic
No Andy Robertson, Again. Underrated obviously.
Ederson? And your reasoning being nothing to do with conventional goalkeeping.
Easy to look good in terms of clean sheets and goals conceded when your team averages like 75% possession and you face barely any shots. De Gea or Pope have clearly been the best in the league.
@Brian: Pope is great with crosses, in fairness…
Lascelles over Sanchez, bit of a donkey if I’m honest. Not very reassuring at the back.
Agree with the team overall but feel like Kante or Shane Duffy are also some good shouts