1 hour ago
1
Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James firmly believes Alisson remains the top keeper in the Premier League, despite Manchester City's acquisition of Champions League winner Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Liverpool haa kicked off their title defence with a hat-trick of victories, including a notable triumph over Arsenal prior to the international break. Manchester City has secured the services of Donnarumma, who played a pivotal role in PSG's success in Europe's premier club competition last season.
However, James, who enjoyed a seven-year stint at Liverpool and clinched the League Cup, insists that Alisson still holds the upper hand. "My favourite keeper for many different reasons is Ali," he declared. "Because he has all the attributes.
"He stops shots, his distribution is fantastic, his composure is so admirable and if he makes a mistake, within three seconds you don't know what happened.
"He is just so composed about things whereas during my career I might have been punching things or running round like a lunatic, one way or the other!
"But he genuinely, over many years now, has proven himself to be the best keeper and the way that Liverpool play, you need him. Ali was the only fit for Liverpool and that's why they brought him in and had the success they've had.
"Having said that, there are other keepers like David Raya at Arsenal - we saw him against Manchester United - who are capable of making massively athletic saves.
"Obviously his distribution and stuff like that are terrific too. He is a very, very good goalkeeper. But for whatever reason, Ali is better. It's going to be very difficult for Mamardashvili to take his place."
Alisson built upon an impressive showing against the Gunners with an even more commanding performance for Brazil against Bolivia, despite his nation's World Cup qualifying setback.
The 32-year-old continues as Brazil's unquestioned first choice and - despite the five-time world champions having already secured their spot in next year's World Cup - was once more selected by manager Carlo Ancelotti.
This stands in stark contrast to Alisson's shaky initial period at Liverpool in 2018, when the former Roma number one faced severe scrutiny for attempting to play out from the back during a match against Leicester. He was dispossessed by forward Kelechi Iheanacho who proceeded to find the net.
However, Alisson's response continues to be a fundamental reason why James considers him essential to Liverpool's title challenge, regardless of Donnarumma's potential arrival.
Speaking whilst promoting William Hill's Final One Standing predictor game, he continued: "When you go back to that game against Leicester in 2018, he he was absolutely battered for making that mistake.
"But it didn't faze him. On top of all that, he is a lovely person as well! So when you have all the professional attributes and off the field you have the personal attributes then it makes you a better person and a better player.
"The thing about Donnarumma is that with City having just signed another keeper, James Trafford from Burnley, I don't see where Donnarumma fits in.
"Because James can do all the things that Donnarumma can, I would argue, even though he hasn't been in all the pressure situations where Donnarumma has excelled.
"Look at last season for PSG, Donnarumma in the league was making few saves but conceding a few goals and was nowhere near the levels he was in that Champions League run. And nowhere near the levels he was when he was performing in the Euros finals.
"I just think that Donnarumma is the big game player. So if Manchester City want to win the Champions League final yes, Donnarumma is the keeper you would want in that position. Because James Trafford hasn't had that experience. But James has the opportunity to learn now. ".
English (US) ·