‘I was only the most expensive for two weeks!’ – Alisson welcomes £65m worth of expectation at Liverpool

Liverpool star Alisson claims to have embraced the pressure which saw him become the world’s most expensive goalkeeper “for two weeks” and a leading man at Anfield.

The Brazil international was snapped up by the Reds from Roma for £65 million ($84m) during the summer of 2018.

That deal, which made him the costliest custodian on the planet at the time, was quickly topped by Chelsea’s capture of Kepa Arrizabalaga.

A big price tag did, however, bring with it big expectation for Alisson.

He has not disappointed, with the 27-year-old now a Premier League Golden Glove winner and a key component in a Liverpool side looking to add a Premier League title to the Champions League crown captured in 2018-19.

Alisson has made a timely return from injury to aid that cause and claims to be revelling in his role as a talismanic presence for Jurgen Klopp.

He told FIFA’s official website: “In football you always have to deal with pressure.

“Actually, I was only the [world’s] most expensive goalkeeper for two weeks! But I knew it was a very big transfer, something out of the ordinary. That generated huge external expectations, but I didn’t demand any more from myself than I normally would – which is already a lot, regardless of my transfer value.

“For me, the most important thing is always to give your very best to help the team.”

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Quizzed on how he plans to remain at the top of his game, Alisson added: “Over and above the technical and physical requirements, in which I think I have a high level, for me the most important thing is the mental side.

“It’s essential for a keeper to be focused throughout the match. You can’t relax for a minute, or it can be fatal. Therefore, what I work on most is my concentration.

“I really like to watch goals from all the leagues as well so I can analyse what I’d do differently in the same situation. I like to see saves too – I've always been very observant. I try to learn from what other players do right and wrong.”

Alisson was recently awarded the Best Men’s Goalkeeper prize at a glitzy FIFA awards show and feels proud to have earned such recognition in a relatively short space of time.

He said: “My main goals in football have always been group oriented. Of course, helping my club win titles allows me to aspire to individual awards like these. Winning The Best was therefore a really great honour.”

On pipping the likes of Ederson and Marc-Andre te Stegen to a prestigious honour, Alisson added: “They are great goalkeepers and meet all the requirements for the position.

“I'd love to have Ederson’s long-range passing, it's amazing. From Ter Stegen, I’d like his explosiveness: he makes some great saves thanks to his powerful legs. I think those are their main strengths.”