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Liverpool transfer news: Alisson reveals how playing at Anfield against the Reds in the Champions League convinced him to join them
The Brazilian international has become the most expensive goalkeeper in history after agreeing a £67m transfer from the Serie A club
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool new boy Alisson has revealed how playing against the Reds at Anfield last season finally convinced him to make his world record move from Roma.
The Brazilian international has become the most expensive goalkeeper in history after agreeing a £67m transfer from the Serie A club.
The 25-year-old was a virtual ever-present for Roma last season as they finished third and reached the Champions League semi-finals - where they were knocked out 7-6 on aggregate by Liverpool in a thrilling two-legged tie.
And after penning a six-year deal with the club the shot stopper revealed that night in April played a big part in his decision.
"It was one of the tensest games of my career and one of the most exciting. I think the Anfield factor contributed a lot to that," he told the club's official website. "Putting the result aside, which was an unfortunate moment in my career – but it wasn’t my first defeat and won’t be my last, we have to deal with these things as professionals – it was an amazing game.
"I remember for 35 minutes we went toe-to-toe, it was a balanced game, but from the moment the fans started believing in the team it brought an energy into the stadium and the players grew. It was the moment they started growing into the game.
"Salah scored the first goal, sending the stadium into delirium – it was incredible. Players hope for that type of support from the fans. For me, that’s great for this coming season. Hopefully I can benefit from it and my performances will become even better on the pitch."
He added: "It did influence the decision. When you make an important decision like this it’s not just a decision to change clubs, it practically changes your entire life, my family’s life, my wife, my daughter. That game definitely did have an influence but I also watched other games.
"I’ve seen other games where I could see the way Klopp had the team playing. That has made me really excited to be part of this group. Apart from the fact that the club is massive, the players that have come through here and the titles won, hopefully I can play a part in the history being created here, win titles and be a part of the project that has been developed here in the past few years so we can see Liverpool rise once again."
Alisson started all five of Brazil's matches and kept three clean sheets at the recently-completed World Cup, where the South American superpowers were knocked out by Belgium in the quarter-finals.
He was also a virtual ever-present for Roma last season as they finished third in Serie A and reached the Champions League semi-finals - knocked out 7-6 on aggregate by Liverpool.
Reds boss Jurgen Klopp believes he has secured the services of one of the game's top keepers.
The German said: "At one point in the last few weeks it came up, the opportunity to sign one of the world's best goalkeepers - then it's not a long thought, to be honest, it's only that you need to have a little talk with the owners! They were quite excited, so we did it. The full package is just good.
"How we all do, he needs to adapt to the English Premier League, that's how it is. The league is different, the refs are different, the goalkeeper life is different in the Premier League.
"Age-wise he can improve, the best years are coming in the goalkeeper life, so it's all good."
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