Charlotte: Liverpool’s new goalkeeper Alisson is “desperate” to play for the Merseyside club and could make his debut against Serie A side Napoli in a pre-season match on August 4, manager Jurgen Klopp has said.
Liverpool signed Brazil international Alisson from AS Roma this month, smashing the world record for a goalkeeper in a deal worth up to 72.5 million euros (Dh312 million).
“He is desperate to play. He could have joined us here in America but it made absolutely no sense,” Klopp told a news conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they lost a pre-season clash 3-1 against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
“He had a long year and as Brazil’s NO. 1, it was quite an intense year, so I sent him on holiday again ... I would say he plays in Dublin (against Napoli).”
Alisson, 25, is expected to replace Loris Karius as first choice goalkeeper with the club’s other keeper Simon Mignolet set to drop lower down the pecking order.
Klopp defended Germany’s Karius, who was blamed for two of Real Madrid’s goals when the Spanish side beat Liverpool 3-1 in the Champions League final in May.
“We need a stronger squad and Loris is an outstanding goalkeeper. That is the truth. Nothing else,” Klopp added.
“My job is together with Michael Edwards (sporting director) and Mike Gordon (president) to bring the best players who are available for Liverpool if they fit in. That is what we have tried to do.”
American international Christian Pulisic scored two second-half goals to lift Dortmund to the win over Liverpool in an International Champions Cup friendly.
Pulisic almost completed the hat-trick in the 93rd minute but his blast from close range was stopped and the rebound went to teammate Jacob Bruun Larsen who deposited it into the empty net as Dortmund improved to 2-0 in the 18-team pre-season tournament.
With Mohammad Salah, Pedro Chirivella, Georginio Wijnaldum, Sadio Mane and Marko Grujic sitting out it was an inexperienced Liverpool side that took to the field at Bank of America Stadium.
Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring for Liverpool in the 25th minute with a perfectly timed leaping header off a long cross from Andrew Robertson.
Dortmund’s best chance to score in the first half was a sharp angle shot by Marius Wolf that Liverpool keeper Loris Karius easily handled.
Both teams substituted several players to begin the second half which brought the German side to life.
Liverpool’s Sheyi Ojo had a chance to extend the lead on a solo opportunity in the 64th minute but his shot deflected off goalkeeper Marwin Hitz and then bounced off the crossbar.
That helped set the stage for Pulisic’s heroics. He levelled 1 in the 66th minute on a penalty conversion, hammering his attempt straight down the middle of the net.
Pulisic scored again in the 89th minute by finishing off a nice passing play with teammate Marcel Schmelzer with a low shot to the near post.
Liverpool next face league champions Manchester City in New York on Wednesday before taking on Manchester United in Michigan at the weekend.
They then play Napoli in Dublin and Torino at Anfield. Klopp’s side meet West Ham United in their first match of the season on August 12.
— AFP
