'I have seen': Arne Slot says he's now realised just how good 'outstanding' Liverpool player really is
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Liverpool players have regularly been underlining the quality they have during the season so far.
The Reds have started the new campaign in excellent form, winning nine out of 10 games in all competitions.
It has been an almost perfect start for Arne Slot as he attempts to follow the brilliance of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.
Part of the reason Klopp saw it as a good time to leave Anfield in the summer was that he fully believed in the quality within the Liverpool squad.
Having brought the Reds back from a really difficult season in 2022/23, Klopp thought that the group was in a good enough place for a new man to come in and hit the ground running.
That has since proven to be true, and having now worked with his players for three months or so, Slot has remarked on the ‘outstanding’ quality of one player in particular.
Arne Slot hails Alisson Becker
While Liverpool have been fantastically consistent up until this point of the season, a tough run now awaits them.
The next seven games see Liverpool face Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton twice, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa.
Unfortunately, Liverpool will be without Alisson Becker for each of those seven matches. After picking up a hamstring injury at Crystal Palace, the Reds goalkeeper is set to be out for a month and a half.
Although Caoimhin Kelleher will be trusted to come in, it’s still a steep drop off from perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world right now.
READ MORE: Everything to know on Alisson Becker from wife to net worth
Slot would certainly seem to subscribe to the notion that Alisson is the best around. Having been asked to name his all-time XI of Champions League winners by Amazon Sport Video Prime, the Dutchman picked the Brazilian as the man between the sticks.
“Everybody would understand that I pick Alisson because I work with him now, but he was also really important when they won the Champions League a few years ago,” said Slot.
“Since I have worked with him, I have seen how special he is and how many important saves he has already made. He has been outstanding for Liverpool all these years. It's an easy pick for me to go for Alisson.”
Who else did Arne Slot pick?
Slot clearly has a growing allegiance to Liverpool. Although the Reds have only won two Champions League trophies since the tournament’s rebrand in the 1990’s, the 46-year-old named five Reds players in his all-time winners XI.
Virgil van Dijk joined Alisson, with Trent Alexander-Arnold also perhaps surprisingly sneaking in at right-back.
Mohamed Salah completed the trio of current Liverpool players in the team, while Slot explained why he would pick Steven Gerrard over Andres Iniesta in midfield.
Away from Liverpool, Slot chose four former Barcelona players. Gerard Pique partnered Van Dijk in defence, with Sergio Busquets the midfield holder and Lionel Messi up-front.
Frank de Boer was Slot’s left-back, although the former Feyenoord boss stressed that he was picking the Ajax, not Barcelona version of the Dutch defender. Finally, Real Madrid duo Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo completed the Liverpool boss’ team.
