by Liverpool are embarking on an unusual endeavor before facing their biggest rivals: they are talking so much about Manchester United that you could be forgiven for thinking they have shares in Ineos.
Jurgen Klopp has warned that harsh criticism of Erik ten Hag’s team makes them more dangerous, while his goalkeeper Alisson Becker says he expects “fire” from United players looking to avenge the 7-0 thrashing at Anfield last season .
A spark of life would be a start as far as Old Trafford’s experienced analysts are concerned, given the recent form of Ten Hag’s side. The fact that Klopp and his players are proactively countering assumptions of a repeat of the March attack reflects the clubs’ current position. Liverpool’s fear, it seems, is that absorbing the broader view that the lambs are turning up for another sacrifice would leave them vulnerable to a ferocious response from United.
When asked how he would react in United’s position, Alisson spoke from bitter experience.
“I would be on fire and I would try to set my teammates on fire too,” said Brazil’s number one.
“As a footballer, as an elite athlete, you are going to try to use it to motivate yourself. I don’t know much about the Man United players so I don’t know what they’re going to do, but I’m sure they’ll come here to try and get the result out of us. We are focused on getting the three points.
“For our part, that game is in the past. “It’s good that the fans talk and remember, but now we have a different team and we are in a different moment.”
Alisson was on the receiving end of a beating at Anfield as part of the Roma team’s 5-2 defeat in the 2018 Champions League semi-final and remembers counting the days to make amends.
“I lost that match and it wasn’t a good experience, but this is the type of match you want to play in. The players from Liverpool FC, Chelsea, Man United and Man City are players who have to enjoy playing in these types of matches. of game. I really enjoy when we play against great rivals.”
Alisson’s encouraging words do not end there, as he has offered sympathy to his rival André Onana, whose litany of errors has proven especially costly given United’s European exit.
“A really good goalkeeper,” Alisson said. “The Champions League he played in last season was incredible.”
So what is he fighting for? Alisson suggested looking beyond the individual.
“I was lucky to come to a team that was already going differently; that was being built,” he said.
“He needs to be patient, he needs to deal with everything that’s going on in his life the best way he can and I think he’s someone who needs everyone’s support right now, so I think he’ll get it.” there.
“I went through something similar to what he is going through; Coming from an Italian club to England, to a big club, for a lot of money. It’s a lot of responsibility on your shoulders and he came here with the responsibility of being the replacement for [David] De Gea, who may not have been in the best shape of his career, but was still delivering.
“He gave so many good things for Manchester United and so many appearances for Manchester United and [to replace that] It’s a big step in your career. I think he is capable of assuming this responsibility, but sometimes he spends more time with some than with others. You are changing teams, you are changing leagues. They [United] “They are trying to adapt and discover themselves and that can affect you a lot.”
While Onana tries to establish himself, Alisson is a key reason Liverpool are at the top, his save percentage the highest in the Premier League amid belief he is improving.
“Yes, if the numbers speak, then maybe,” he said. “I feel good, in good shape. I’m working to improve every year as much as I can.
“I started playing [first-team] football at a young age for a goalkeeper, 21 or 22 years old, so I’ve been in the position for 10 years now. It’s a long time, but I’m still young to be a goalkeeper. If you look at goalkeepers now, they play until they are 38, 39 years old and sometimes they go beyond that age.
“I think that now I am reaching the highest point of my career, mixing physicality, experience and a great desire to continue doing well and continue improving.”
United fans are preoccupied with the question of which team will turn up at Anfield; the one that impressed against Chelsea or the one that lost 3-0 to Bournemouth and was meekly eliminated from the Champions League.
But it has gone somewhat unnoticed that Liverpool have also been erratic, their perfect home record camouflaging the difficult days away from home. Three years ago, it was a January victory over United and Alisson’s assist for Mohamed Salah that sparked the Kop’s first rendition of “We’re going to win the League”, a celebrated victory that grew belief.
‘We have to go slower talking about the title’
Alisson is cautious about predicting history will repeat itself and is honest about the progress needed to justify comparison with Klopp’s Premier League winners.
“It was a different era and a different time for that team,” he said.
“That game was incredible. He sent a message to our followers. The fans felt that. At that time, as players, we felt we had a great chance to win the league: defeat Man United, one of your biggest rivals, at home, in that atmosphere and score goals like Mo’s with my assist. It makes you feel very good and gives you a great boost.
“Yes, of course, it’s good to remember every special moment. It happened in a great moment for the team and also in a special moment against a special club.
“But I think we are in a different moment now. We want to win consistently.
“We have to slow down the pace, not our pace, but the race for the title, because we are a team that is rebuilding. Of course we want to win the league, of course we want to beat all the rivals.
“But we always have to focus on the most similar thing we have now. We also have to do better, better than what we are doing, but I think we will get there.”
