Liverpool Confidential: How Alisson went from the world’s best goalkeeper to the worst form of his Anfield career, Giovanni Leoni injury latest and the eye-watering cost of Grand National fixture clash

For many years, the question was always the same: how will Liverpool cope with the day Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk leave?

Two of the foundations blocks in the empire Jurgen Klopp built, Salah and Van Dijk’s fingerprints are all over the trophies that have been won during the past decade and, while you can argue all you wish about their current form, they will prove to be irreplaceable.

The business Liverpool did to get those players through the door was exceptional and era-defining – but the same is true about Alisson Becker. The quiet man of the dressing room became, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper of the Premier League era and, for a long spell, was the world’s No 1.

Liverpool’s landscape would have looked significantly different if Klopp had not been at his most persuasive to convince Alisson to board a private jet in July 2018 and come to Anfield, rather than go to Chelsea, who were desperate to sign him but ended up paying more for Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Those present for his first training session in the French town of Evian were gobsmacked by the speed, agility and quality he showed: they had discovered a jewel.

It has been noticeable this season, though, that his level has dropped and the botched clearance at Molineux on Tuesday that led to Andre’s winning goal for Wolves was reflective of the way the campaign has gone for him and the team in general.

He continues to have an influence but it’s not quite what it was. Still, it was jarring to read Opta’s numbers (see the table above) for how goalkeepers have performed in the Premier League this season: his net ‘goals prevented’ (ie. how he performs compared to the expected goals figure of shots he faces) is currently -3.5.

It is his worst by some distance since he moved from Roma – and places him bottom of the Premier League. His peak was 2022-23, when it was +9.45.

When you don’t seek headlines, it’s easy to slip under the radar but Alisson, without fuss or fanfare, demanded you take notice of everything he did. Don’t let statistics dictate your judgment – he hasn’t become the Premier League’s worst goalkeeper – but he’s in a difficult moment.

Will he still be at Anfield next season? Sources in Italy indicated that Inter Milan discussed him as a target, back in January when they made contact about Curtis Jones, but Liverpool have the option to extend his terms by another 12 months to the end of 2027.

Giorgi Mamardashvili, as yet, hasn’t given the indication he is ready to step into the breach but therein lies the point.

Finding a goalkeeper to do what Alisson did in his pomp is effectively mission impossible. Perhaps now it is becoming apparent just how good the Brazilian has been.

Leoni’s fighting back to fitness 

One of the biggest frustrations of this turbulent campaign was the season-ending injury that centre back Giovanni Leoni suffered on his debut.

Clearly there were going to be bigger tests to come for the young Italian, who turned down interest from Newcastle when leaving Parma in a £27million deal, than a Carabao Cup tie against Southampton but Leoni had looked immediately at home in the centre of Liverpool’s defence.

Rupturing his cruciate ligament, then, was a horrendous turn of events, but Leoni has met this challenge head on. While it is too early to put a date on when he will return – there are no indications he will be back running on grass within the next month – Leoni has made a huge impression on those at Liverpool’s Kirkby base with his dedication to gym work.

He already has a strong command of English and his ability to mix in different social circles is endearing him to many.

Giovanni Leoni suffered a cruel blow on his Liverpool debut, rupturing his cruciate ligament, but has impressed Reds insiders with his gym work

Jacquet stays on French soil 

Jeremy Jacquet had barely become adjusted to the fact he had joined Liverpool in January when his world was turned upside down.

The France Under 21s defender’s season is over after surgery this week on a dislocated shoulder suffered playing for Rennes. 

He will continue his rehabilitation with the Ligue 1 side and Liverpool, while remaining in contact with the French club over his progress, will continue to treat him as a Rennes player, welcoming him in the summer.

Jacquet has already been to Liverpool and met key Anfield figures. Contrary to some reports, Chelsea didn’t back out of negotiations for him; Jacquet told them – and the many others who were desperate to sign him – he only wanted to join Liverpool.

Jeremy Jacquet is another defender struck down by injury – but he will continue his rehab work in France, rather than on Merseyside

Grand National fixture clash 

The latest round of fixture changes for TV scheduling has led eyebrows to be raised with one of Liverpool’s neighbours.

Sky have moved Fulham’s visit to Anfield to 5.30pm on Saturday, April 11 – just over an hour after the Grand National is due to finish. This is not just Aintree’s biggest moment of the year but the one when all eyes are on horse racing.

The Jockey Club, Aintree’s owners, are relaxed about the situation but it all seems unnecessary that an event which always shows the city of Liverpool at its best must be diluted, given football’s dominance over TV coverage.

Anyone wishing to fly into Liverpool from Dublin, either for the Grand National or for the football, should be braced to have their credit card details sent into meltdown: at last check, a day return, leaving Dublin at 7.45am and returning at 10.30pm, was €537.18 (£467.07).

Still, there will be many who say isn’t this just tradition? Before the inception of the Premier League, it was commonplace for Liverpool (or Everton) to kick off at 11.15am on Grand National day, allowing the crowd (and the players) to do the double-header.

One story that demands retelling is the day John Barnes and Alan Hansen, who had enjoyed some refreshments, challenged each other to a race up Aintree’s final furlong. Barnes pulled his hamstring and ended up missing three games!