Liverpool's Brazilian goalkeeper is one of the club's all-time greats but can the Reds afford to lose him? Our LFC writers have their say.
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson could complete a move to Juventus this summer
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson could complete a move to Juventus this summer(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
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Of all of the transformative signings made during the Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool - Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to name but a few - there is a case to be made that none made a more immediate impact than Alisson Becker.
Liverpool's Holy Goalie was billed as 'the Messi of goalkeepers' when he arrived from Roma for a then-record £66.8million for a keeper in the summer of 2018. Liverpool had just finished fourth with 75 points and lost a heart-breaking Champions League final to Real Madrid in Kyiv.
In Alisson's first season, Liverpool came second with 97 points and won the Champions League. The rest is history.
Alisson's remarkable Liverpool career needs no further introduction and he is undoubtedly the best goalkeeper of Liverpool's modern history - but turning 34 in October, increasingly injured and now challenged by Giorgi Mamardashvili for a starting spot, reports have linked him with interest from Juventus.
Can Liverpool afford to let Alisson leave this summer? The ECHO's Liverpool FC writers are here to debate the answer to that question.
Paul Gorst
Anyone starting to feel as though life after Alisson Becker might just be possible for Liverpool received a reminder in the first half of Sunday's draw with Brentford of why he remains integral.
After being a virtual spectator, Alisson sprung into action to deny Kevin Schade and keep the score goalless in a game the Reds needed to avoid losing to confirm their status as Champions League participants next season.
It was a save that drew comparisons with a famous denial of Arkadiusz Milik for Napoli, all those years ago when the last-gasp act preserved a 1-0 win and progression to the knockout stages of a competition Jurgen Klopp's side went on to win.
That, though, will be seven years ago on June 1, so Liverpool have of course got to plan for the long term and the purchase of Giorgi Mamardashvili, arranged two years ago before being formally ratified last summer, was proof of a club future-proofing their goalkeeping department.
But in a summer that has already seen Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson leave, Liverpool's core leadership group is losing serious and serial winners. So an Alisson exit would be too much too soon, particularly at a time when Arne Slot needs surety over so many aspects after a troublesome term.
Alisson has missed nearly 30% of the last three Premier League seasons so his injury issues are well documented. You can understand why the club might take a more business-like view of things, particularly with the Brazilian likely being a high earner.
But losing him now would be a major blow. Liverpool are allowing some legendary figures to walk away this summer in Salah and Robertson, letting a third go would feel like self-sabotage. One more year as a minimum.
Richard Garnett
I once said that I'd trust Alisson to look after my own child, never mind catch a football, so that gives you an idea of how highly I regard the Brazilian goalkeeper. I've been going to Anfield since 1987 and I can say without hesitation that he is the finest player I have ever seen pull on the No. 1 jersey for the Reds.
Nothing ever lasts forever, though, so if the succession planning for Mohamed Salah's exit looked a bit ropey and that of Andy Robertson hardly convincing, at least we can say that Liverpool got ahead of the game with bringing in a replacement for Alisson.
The trouble is, Giorgi Mamardashvili has actually had a decent run of games, but looks miles off being ready to step into the big man's trusted gloves. In fact, I would argue that they let a more established 'keeper leave in Caoimhin Kelleher last summer. Had they held onto the Irishman for just one more season we might not have been having this debate.
As things stand, the Reds are not ready to let another major leadership figure, such as Alisson, walk out of the club. In fact, doing so would, for me, be an act of gross negligence. Juventus will just have to wait if they really want him.
Morgan King
For me, absolutely not. Even leaving aside Alisson's incredible record at the club and thinking ruthlessly as Liverpool's decision-makers undoubtedly will, there isn't really a case to be made that the club will be better off without him.
Simply put, the fee Liverpool would likely receive with one year remaining wouldn't cover a top-class replacement. When the side needs strengthening in multiple positions, as it does this summer, that then leaves the question of whether the obvious in-house solution is ready to step up to No. 1.
As great as Mamardashvili was at Valencia the season before Liverpool agreed a deal for him (2023-24), he hasn't performed at those same levels in the two seasons since.
That's not to say he can't get back there, and time is very much on the Georgian's side, but other than making saves (which Mamardashvili can do to a better extent than he has shown this season), a goalkeeper fundamentally needs to transmit confidence to his defence.
For that, he needs confidence in himself. It has so far been impossible for Mamardashvili to build that at Liverpool given some of the dreadful runs he's been in between the posts for, and he doesn't have the natural confidence - bordering on arrogance - that Alisson showed when he first arrived at Anfield to mitigate that.
Alisson in goal does still seem to have a calming effect on the team. And though the gap between their respective performances hasn't been enormous, it has nevertheless been significant.
For his presence, leadership qualities and sheer status - Alisson is still among the best in the world in his position - it would be crazy to let him go this summer after activating the option of an additional year on his contract.
But we should probably prepare for a tearful goodbye at the end of next season if he does stick around until then.