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| Jurgen Klopp |
Klopp reveals bizarre Alisson training methods at Liverpool
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has admitted to using rugby as the inspiration for training routines intended to aid Alisson’s adjustment to life in the Premier League.
The Reds spent big bringing in a new No.1 over the summer, with the transfer record for goalkeeping additions briefly broken when landing a Brazil international from Roma.
Alisson arrived at Anfield in a £65 million ($85m) deal, with the 25-year-old considered to be the answer in a problematic position.
There have been early signs of encouragement, but Klopp is still working to toughen the South American up to the demands of English football.
The German coach told reporters ahead of a meeting with Crystal Palace on Monday: “Set pieces are quite different here – it makes sense to do it because the six yard area is not a safety box, but rather [just] a proposal…!
“First of all we brought him here because of the things that he is already good at. That is what we want him to do.”
Liverpool’s efforts to make Alisson even better have included bringing out rugby-style crash pads at Melwood, with pre-game preparations taken to the extreme.
Klopp added: “That is what the goalkeepers always do. It is not really rugby, it is goalkeeper training.
“All the boys did it. When Loris [Karius] came he did it, all the goalkeepers do it, and Alisson is doing it as well, of course.
“We have these situations in training constantly when we do set pieces the box is full with 22 players. Maybe that is a bit much, but 15 certainly. It is busy, we do it often so that the goalkeeper gets used to that.
“It is all about timing. We will see how that is, but it is not that the goalkeeper has to change completely now for this league, we have to help him too in situations. That is how it is always is.”
Alisson kept a clean sheet on his competitive debut for Liverpool, with West Ham shut out in a 4-0 victory at Anfield.
