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 E72.5 million.
“He is desperate to play. He could have joined us here in America but it made absolutely no sense,” Klopp said in North Carolina, where they lost a pre-season clash 3-1 against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
“As Brazil’s number one, 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.
“Loris is an outstanding goalkeeper.”