Reaction'It was worth every moment' – Alisson Becker explains joy of Liverpool comeback

Having been sidelined with injury since October 5, the goalkeeper was back in Arne Slot’s starting XI for the 1-0 Champions League victory at Girona.

Alisson marked the occasion with an impressive display that included several important saves and earned him the Carlsberg Player of the Match award.

• Read our match report from Girona here

Shortly after the final whistle at Estadi Montilivi – where Mohamed Salah’s second-half penalty was ultimately the decider – Alisson spoke to Liverpoolfc.com of his strong emotions when pulling on the shirt again.

Read his post-match reaction in full below…

On his return to action…

Great to be back. Honestly, I was looking forward to this moment, nine weeks [out] working so hard you cannot believe. It was worth every moment, every session, every [bit of] training to go back on the pitch and deliver a good performance, to help the team with the points, a clean sheet. And having this feeling is so good.

When you are away for so long, you are just grateful for everything you have done and for the people as well who have worked by my side, the physio department – mainly Lee Nobes, the doctor. All the boys were fantastic. My personal staff as well. My family, all the people who work with me. I’m so glad to have them on my side.

On the thought of making that first save in a game helping him get through even the toughest of sessions during his recovery…

I think when you make the first save you just want to keep doing your best. I wanted tonight to be perfect for us, and perfect means three points and a clean sheet for a goalkeeper. Of course the performance, we know that we could have done better with the ball and without it. But for tonight I will be glad anyway because it was hard work for me to come back and I just want to keep this feeling, enjoying every game from now on and stay fit.

On having to make some good saves in the opening half and if it’s actually helpful for rhythm after being out injured…

I don’t think too much about that, to be honest, before the match, I just want to do whatever is necessary to deliver a good performance, either playing from behind, or if it’s making saves, catching crosses. It was necessary to make some saves and catch some crosses. I was just enjoying so much the game, enjoying being back and I enjoy now the victory.

But we have Saturday already, a big challenge, and the season is just at the beginning. We have a difficult moment coming now, real intensity for us in the Premier League so we are going to stay focused on the next challenge that we have, to deliver the best and try to get the three points.

On the positives to take from Liverpool winning the game when not quite at their best…

Yes, it’s part of a winning team. For sure, you’ve seen so many teams during the season winning trophies and they don’t deliver the best performances ever, but if you want to look for consistency you have to play better game after game. Of course we are not machines and we are going to have not-so-good days, but the good thing in football is you have another chance in three days.

We just have to prepare ourselves, don’t be upset and be happy for the points, but also have the acknowledgement that you have to improve. It’s not something we have to make new, just look to the good things we did in the games like for example against Manchester City and Real Madrid, and keep on doing that, keep on going with that. Now having players coming back from injuries is good as well; myself, other players, Diogo [Jota], [Federico] Chiesa. Macca [Alexis Mac Allister] was out today, but everybody is ready to make the difference.

On how excited he is at the prospect of stepping out at Anfield again on Saturday…

I’m looking forward again! Anfield is always special and against a tough opponent, Fulham, they are playing really well this season. We know that will be difficult, as it was tonight or even more. I’m excited to be there on Saturday to play this game.