Alisson: Goalkeeper's main job is making saves, footwork is more an extra thing

Alisson Becker on the art of goalkeeping: 'Every situation is different'

Liverpool No.1 Alisson Becker has opened up on the art of goalkeeping in the modern-day era, pointing to one key area where the position has developed.

The Brazil international has kept 12 Premier League clean sheets across 2023 so far, the most of any goalkeeper playing in the division, having established himself as one of the best in world football.

He won the league's Save of the Month award for August for his stunning halt of Miguel Almiron's effort in Liverpool's 2-1 comeback victory over Newcastle United, and was again shortlisted in September for his save against Tottenham Hotspur's Son Heung-min.

Quizzed on what is key for a goalkeeper in the modern era, Alisson was quoted in last weekend's matchday programme: "Still saving goals. Of course, I think you see goalkeepers playing more with their feet from the back and you see teams playing more with their feet from the back, not only kicking long balls.

"That affects our position a little bit, but I don't think it changed too much. We just improved things because of the necessity of what football is asking for. Football today is asking for a team who builds up.

"The goalkeeper needs to play, to be good with his feet, but the main part is making saves and doing what a goalkeeper does – leading the team, claiming crosses. So I think playing with your feet is more an extra thing than the main thing for a goalkeeper."

Asked if he reads situations differently depending on the player he is facing, Alisson added: "Every situation is different and I don't do the same things all the time.

"I think this makes things difficult for the striker because if they know how I react in every situation they can just do something different. I try not to do predictable things and every situation and save is unique.

"Of course I have my style and my technique and I stick to that, but I also try to read situations and what the striker is going to do and use what I train for to make saves.

"Training and reading situations are the key. In one-v-ones you have strikers who have more technique to chip the ball and others like to dribble [around] you, so you have to train and be ready for all these situations."