Arne Slot has not dismissed the possibility of Alisson departing Liverpool during the upcoming summer transfer window. The injury-plagued first-choice goalkeeper, currently sidelined once again for the Reds, is being pursued by Juventus. Slot addressed questions regarding the Brazilian's future on Friday.
Slot on Alisson's Potential Exit
When it was suggested that Liverpool could ill afford to lose Alisson's experience, especially with Andy Robertson and Mohamed Salah reportedly heading for the exit, Slot responded: 'Well, that is your opinion, and I will bring that opinion to the ownership and to Richard Hughes.' He added: 'I think the club is run in a certain way, and we make decisions that the club thinks are in the best interests of the club. And it could mean this is the reason why. It could mean another good argument why we acted how we acted.'
Slot emphasized the club's transfer history, stating: 'I think the history of all the transfers shows that nothing was done without a purpose or without thinking about it. Look, the people who make these decisions take everything into account. They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club.' He acknowledged that experience is 'definitely one argument to keep him, but there are other arguments. That is a decision the club has to make that is needed. In the end, he still has one year [on his contract].'
Alisson's Liverpool Legacy
Alisson has established himself as a world-class operator at Anfield since his £67 million move from Roma in 2018, winning every major trophy with the club. He has made 332 appearances for the Reds and is nearing a return to fitness, though second-choice goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili is also injured. Third-choice Freddie Woodman will start in goal for Saturday's match against Crystal Palace.
When questioned about Alisson's potential departure, Slot reiterated that the goalkeeper loves playing for Liverpool. He stated: 'I'm only focused on the short term and getting him back in goal. All these rumours that are out there about him or about me or others – we don't react to rumours in this room. Not in my conversations with Richard (Hughes), we only react when facts need to be told and there's nothing at the moment. He wants to be in goal for the club he loves to play for and then the country he loves to play for.'
Injury Concerns and Schedule
Slot also addressed Alisson's recurring injuries, saying: 'We are looking at these kind of injuries he is having. Muscle injury you always look to prevent with your training programme. He's not the only one. But football has changed so much, muscle injuries more and more and more and we all know why: the crazy schedule. Which, to be fair I like as I can always watch a game on television every night, but for the health of the players it's getting more and more and more. Maybe age plays a part but this week we saw (Lamine) Yamal get an injury, it's more to do with the schedule they are playing.'
