Interview'This is a clear message…' - Alisson Becker reveals Arne Slot's defensive demands
Alisson Becker will do everything he can to fulfil Arne Slot's demand for more clean sheets this season.
Liverpool registered their first shutout of 2024-25 at the first attempt last weekend in the 2-0 opening-day victory at Ipswich Town.
Alisson fully understands the importance of the defensive stability his head coach is seeking and how it can help the Reds with their objectives in the campaign ahead.
The goalkeeper told Liverpoolfc.com: "This is a clear message from the manager. He wants us to get more clean sheets.
"He understands the importance of getting clean sheets, of having a team that can defend really well, being solid, being compact, being consistent. This is going to carry us through the season and will win us games as well.
"We know the offensive quality that we have. So if we can defend the same way as we attack, if we can be that good, it will be really good for us this season to achieve our goals."
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Watch on YouTubeLiverpool's attacking firepower was on full display at Ipswich as second-half goals from Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah saw the team move past a tricky opening 45 minutes.
Alisson analysed: "It's always important to start on the right foot and also what we did on the pitch – talking about the positive things, everything that we worked [on] in the pre-season, in the weeks after the pre-season – everything we prepared we could do on the pitch.
"Of course, [there are] a lot of things to improve still but we work on that. We are really happy at this moment that we could start the season with three points and with a clean sheet as well. Those are our goals for the games this season."
With his undoubted ability on the ball, the No.1 is relishing a role in the build-up phase of Slot's playing style.
It's a tactical set-up Alisson enjoys being part of and believes can lead to success, though he knows the responsibility is on the players to execute it to its full potential.
"From all the things that he [Slot] asks, it doesn't change too much because in the end on the pitch it's our decision," the Brazilian said.
"We have to read the game, we have to understand where we can play, where we can't – sometimes taking risks but calculated risks, not making silly mistakes but always trying to play.
"Arne is a manager that likes to create from behind a lot with short passes to create spaces where we can hurt the opponent.
"For me it didn't change too much, but I think for the team it changes a little bit more the formation. But for me it's been great – I have more players to play together closer to me.
"If we can do that with consistency, if we can do that in every game, in an intense way, defending really good, being compact, I think we can achieve great things for the season."
The Reds are out to put their second win on the board on Sunday afternoon when Thomas Frank's Brentford visit Anfield in the Premier League.
And there is great excitement within the squad for their first competitive home game of the season.
Alisson finished: "We know how important this next match is, how hard it is to play against Brentford. They are a strong team, they have a lot of intensity in their team, they are strong, they defend well, they are quick, so a lot of difficulties that we are going to have to overcome.
"But when we have our crowd on our side, we know how hard it is to play against Liverpool at Anfield.
"Hopefully we can make a good match, [get] three points again and a clean sheet again."
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