De Zerbi says Klopp really ‘transformed’ one Liverpool player’s role this season: Report

Brighton manager Robert De Zerbi has revealed how Jurgen Klopp changed Alisson Becker’s role at Liverpool this season.

The phenomenal form of the Merseysiders is terrifying for many clubs in the PL. Out of the 16 games the team has played, they have won 11 while drawing 4 and losing only 1.

Perhaps the most exciting draw of the Anfield giants was against Brighton and Hove Albion in game week 8.

The two sides drew 2-2, where Mohamed Salah scored a brace while Simon Adingra and Lewis Dunk scored for the Seagulls.

However, the two managers, Jurgen Klopp and Roberto Ge Zerbi, greatly respect each other. And both of them have been very vocal about it.

De Zerbi on how Klopp changed the role of Alisson

The Brighton manager spoke about how Klopp uses his goalkeeper. Speaking on Italian station Brescia Oggi via Sport Italia, De Zerbi said,

“The evolution of the role of the goalkeeper: today he is becoming an additional player on the pitch at the time of construction.

I give you the example of two matches played this year by my Brighton, against Liverpool and Manchester City: I had prepared the defensive phase, in both cases, going man for man.

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However, Klopp and Guardiola raised the goalkeeper a lot in relation to the penalty area, transforming him into an outfield player and definitely putting me in difficulty.”

Although it is pretty accurate that Alisson is the best goalkeeper in the world, according to the pundits, there are several layers to that.

Even though the German coach used the Brazilian as a sweeper-keeper to beat the high press of Brighton, he wasn’t very comfortable.

The opening goal by Adingra happened as the Brazil international was way out of his place helping his defenders.

Thus, when Alexis Mac Allister lost the ball, the Ivorian quickly took a shot that Alisson could not stop from going into the net.

But this does not show the overall quality of the keeper. It is very much possible that he will become more comfortable in that role with Klopp’s guidance.

Sohom Chatterjee

An ardent football fan and a proud Red. I take immense pleasure in analyzing the intricacies of the game.