Alisson Becker on Monterrey saves and Flamengo final
Alisson Becker offered a modest appraisal of his superb FIFA Club World Cup semi-final performance.
“It was a busy night but it’s my job and what I work for,” the Reds’ goalkeeper told Liverpoolfc.com.
“I’m happy that we have won that game and I could help the team to be in the final of this important tournament that we are in.”
Alisson made seven saves throughout a tight, hard-fought contest with Monterrey in Doha on Wednesday night, with the European champions eventually edging their CONCACAF counterparts 2-1 thanks to Roberto Firmino’s stoppage-time winner.
Victory means Liverpool will now face Flamengo in Saturday’s final at the Khalifa International Stadium.
With Virgil van Dijk missing through illness, along with Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Fabinho being sidelined by injury, captain Jordan Henderson slotted into the unfamiliar surroundings of centre-back alongside Joe Gomez.
On how he approached the unusual prospect of meeting Mexican opposition in Qatar behind a makeshift defence, Alisson stated: “Just to be mentally strong and focus on every movement. I think the guys know me long enough to know me, even Hendo being in a different position.
“I tried to speak with him all the time to help him in the movements but I think everybody did well.
“Of course there were many chances for them but they helped me in those chances to be close to the ball, to make sure the strikers don’t have time to shoot alone, and this makes a difference for the goalkeeper to make a save.”
Alisson went on to explain that the clash with the champions of his homeland will be a difficult one as Liverpool seek to win the Club World Cup for the first time.
The Brazil international continued: “It will be a tough game for us as it was tonight against Monterrey.
“They are different sides. Flamengo have a lot of quality, they have a good defence but I don’t know what to expect from the game. I just know it will be a nice challenge for us, a good challenge and I think for who will be watching the game it will be a nice game with quality [of a] high level.
“We are both champions of the most important tournaments, us with the Champions League and Flamengo won the Copa Libertadores. I know how important this championship is for the Brazilian teams and South American teams, and I know it will be a hard game for us.”