Alisson Becker has spoken ahead of Liverpool's Champions League opener at home to Atletico Madrid on Wednesday
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker reacts during the Premier League match at Burnley on September 14 2025
(Image: Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Liverpool strolled to the Premier League title last season at such a canter the final month became one long party for Arne Slot and his players. But amid all the celebrations there was a sense of regret that even now continues to linger.
Early Champions League elimination to eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain was a rare blemish on a hugely successful campaign, Liverpool dumped out on penalties in a dramatic round of 16 second leg at Anfield.
The disappointment of that exit then carried over into the League Cup final a few days later against Newcastle United in which the Reds slumped to a miserable defeat.
For Slot, the loss to PSG has become a regular reference point he has been unable to scrub from his memory given Liverpool, while fortunate to win the first leg in Paris, had posted one of their best performances of his tenure during the return only to ultimately fall short.
And the feeling among the Reds squad is not dissimilar as they begin their latest crack at winning a seventh European Cup when they entertain Atletico Madrid.
"It is difficult to talk now about that," said goalkeeper Alisson Becker, when asked about the PSG loss. "At the time we were so focused on the Premier League and it is hard to play in two big competitions at the same time.
"I think we had the quality at the time. But also we had the feeling we could do better.
"The first game we didn’t do so well, we didn't deserve the win. In the second game we played better but they have quality and they showed that by winning the Champions League.
"If you say if we had beaten PSG we would have won the Champions League then that is not true - we respect the competition a lot. We know we could do much better and this is what we will try to do this season."
Alisson Becker celebrates with Virgil van Dijk after Harvey Elliott scores Liverpool's winner at Paris Saint-Germain
Liverpool finished top of the revamped opening league stage last season but have gone beyond the quarter-finals just once since last winning the competition in 2019. And the Reds are setting their sights high this time around.
"In the Premier League last season was great, and we know how special it is to win the Champions League," said Alisson.
"The players who did it in 2019 had that feeling and we want to have the feeling again. The new players have full desire and we are going to try to fight for every trophy. But the Champions League is a big target for us."
Liverpool are among the favourites having splashed out £450million on signings this summer, although Sunday's last-gasp 1-0 Premier League win at Burnley was further evidence of how the new-look team is yet to fully gel.
It was a fourth successive late win for the Reds to maintain the 100% start to the defence of the championship.
And Alisson said: "It says a lot about the group. It is in the DNA of each player who wears the Liverpool FC shirt. You have to come with that kind of mentality.
"You can see in the Premier League that so many games are decided in the last minutes, either scoring or trying to not concede to keep your clean sheet as well. So it is really important for us to have players with that kind of mentality who never give up."
Alisson added: "We know we are going to improve and we are going to work on that.
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"It takes time for all the players to adapt to a new style of play, and everyone knows how physical and intense the Premier League is.
"But the qualities of the new players are unbelievable and they are capable of adapting."