Arne Slot Leaves Door Open for Alisson’s Potential Departure
Liverpool manager Arne Slot has not ruled out the possibility of goalkeeper Alisson leaving the club this summer. The Brazilian, who has been sidelined due to injuries, is reportedly being targeted by Italian side Juventus. During a recent press conference, Slot was asked about the future of the No 1 keeper.
When questioned about whether Liverpool could afford to lose Alisson, especially with key players like Andy Robertson and Mo Salah expected to depart, Slot responded: ‘Well, that is your opinion and I will bring that opinion to the ownership and to Richard Hughes. I think the club is run in a certain way and we make decisions that the club thinks are in the best interests of the club. And it could mean this is the reason why. It could mean another good argument why we acted how we acted.’
He continued: ‘I think the history of all the transfers shows that nothing was done without a purpose or without thinking about it. Look, the people who make these decisions take everything into account. They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club. [Experience] is definitely one argument to keep him but there are other arguments. That is a decision the club has to make that is needed. In the end, he still has one year [on his contract].’
Alisson’s Legacy at Liverpool
Alisson has established himself as a world-class goalkeeper since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2018 for a fee of £67 million. He has made 332 appearances for the Reds and has been instrumental in winning every major trophy the club has claimed during his tenure.
The 33-year-old is close to returning to fitness, although he remains out of action. With second-choice goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili also injured, third-choice Freddie Woodman will be called upon to play against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Slot emphasized that Alisson still loves playing for the club, adding: ‘I’m only focused on short term and getting him back in goal. All these rumours that are out there about him or about me or others – we don’t react to rumours in this room. Not in my conversations with Richard (Hughes), we only react when facts need to be told and there’s nothing at the moment. He wants to be in goal for the club he loves to play for and then the country he loves to play for.’
Injury Concerns and the Impact of the Schedule
Slot also addressed the ongoing injury concerns surrounding Alisson, noting that muscle injuries are becoming increasingly common in modern football. He said: ‘We are looking at these kind of injuries he is having. Muscle injury you always look to prevent with your training programme. He’s not the only one. But football has changed so much, muscle injuries more and more and more and we all know why: the crazy schedule.’
He added: ‘Which, to be fair I like as I can always watch a game on television every night, but for the health of the players it’s getting more and more and more. Maybe age plays a part but this week we saw (Lamine) Yamal get an injury, it’s more to do with the schedule they are playing.’
