Alisson has been billed as the “perfect goalkeeper” by former Liverpool No. 1 Sander Westerveld, with the Brazilian considered to be worth every penny of his £65 million ($86m) transfer fee. The Reds briefly made the South American the costliest custodian in world football during the summer of 2018 when acquiring his services from Roma. The pressure of such a standing was soon eased by Chelsea’s record-breaking move for Kepa Arrizabalaga, with Alisson freed to focus on his football at Anfield. He has set about a new challenge with gusto and currently boasts the best defensive record in the Premier League. At just 26 years of age, there is still plenty of improvement to come from Alisson, although a predecessor between the sticks on Merseyside claims he has already reached the very top. Westerveld told Liverpool’s official website of a commanding presence: “I think he is the perfect goalkeeper. “We used to have perfect goalkeepers with the likes of [Manuel] Neuer. “If you look at styles of goalkeepers, Neuer has everything. He is a good footballer, he has good reaction, he commands his area - and Alisson is the same. “He is great on one-v-ones, he is great at his reflexes on the line. He comes and takes crosses, he’s amazing with his feet and the most important thing is he makes important saves at important moments. “So, even if he makes a mistake, we still win 3-1. He never makes a mistake and we lose 1-0. Again, you need a little bit of luck as a goalkeeper but I think he is probably one of the top goalkeepers we have in the world at the moment. “In fact, not probably, he is one of the best top two goalkeepers in the world I would say.” Alisson is not the only man to have starred for Liverpool this season as they chase down Premier League and Champions League crowns. Jurgen Klopp has invested wisely in recent transfer windows, adding quality to his starting XI and depth to his squad. Westerveld added on the Anfield collective: “I think we have got a good balance in this team now. We have got a good goalkeeper, we have got a good striker, a good midfield and a good defence so the balance is there. “We have got a good squad and we can really challenge. Manchester City are an amazing team but sometimes you need a little bit of luck. You make your own luck as well, but I think we can do it this season.” Liverpool sit two points above City in the Premier League table as things stand, but they have played a game more than the defending champions. The Reds have just seven fixtures left to take in, with the first of those seeing them play host to Tottenham on Sunday.

Virgil van Dijk and Alisson have Liverpool in “a really good place”, says Kenny Dalglish, with the Reds getting “closer and closer” to landing that elusive piece of major silverware. Jurgen Klopp's side have been within touching distance of winning trophies since he succeeded Brendan Rodgers in October 2015. However, under the German's stewardship, Liverpool have suffered heartache in the League Cup, Europa League and Champions League finals. The Reds are back in the hunt for continental glory this season, while they currently top the Premier League table by two points ahead of reigning champions Manchester City. Many point to the the club's shrewd investment in the transfer market as the reasons they are in contention of winning these prestigious prizes, with Reds legend Dalglish impressed by the progress being made at Anfield. He told Liverpool’s official website: “You never know when your success is going to come, but certainly the January transfer window when they brought in Virgil and the summer when they brought in Alisson Becker - two fantastic signings. “Two people with real presence and stature, as well as stopping them at one end and Virgil’s knocked in a couple at the other end! And when you’re confronted with Alisson Becker one on one, he’s an imposing feature to try and knock it past. So they’re two areas we’ve strengthened over the last 12 to 14 months, and that’s fantastic for us.  “You’ve got two young full-backs, Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and Robbo [Andrew Robertson] who have done unbelievably well for two young guys. They’ve been really successful in what they’ve done.  “The front three, you’re not going to look too far away from them three if you’re picking a team and he [Klopp] floats about a bit with the three in the middle, which is important as well. I think we’re in a really good place and you keep your fingers crossed between now and the end of the season and you see what happens.  “But whether you win the title or you finish second, or you get progress in winning the Champions League or you don’t, I think the positivity in and around the place is brilliant and I think we really are stepping forward and getting closer and closer.  “We’re closer this year than we were last year, so that’s the most important thing. In the Champions League we got the final last year and lost to Real Madrid, so maybe they’ll say ‘you’re only at the quarter-final stage so that’s not really progress, you’ve not got to the final yet or are not winning it’, but when you compare the progress from last year, you need to win it. So if you don’t win it, is that not progress? I think it’s still progress.  “Porto in the quarters will be a difficult game but we were convincing winners last year with them, which psychologically might help but it doesn’t get you any goals, so they just need to overcome them first.  “And then the league, all we can do is play against the people that are put in front of us and they’ve done it successfully so far, so let’s keep our fingers crossed and there’s no reason why they shouldn’t continue that.”  Liverpool have just seven games to come in the Premier League title race, with the first of those set to see them play host to Tottenham on Sunday.

Sadio Mane is flourishing at Liverpool, becoming their go-to man for crucial goals, but Salif Diao says he needs to offer even more and land a trophy in order to compete for the Ballon d’Or. The Reds forward has already hit the fabled 20-goal mark this season, with a prolific run of form seeing him find the target 11 times in his last 11 outings. As Mohamed Salah struggles for end product at Anfield, Mane has been a talismanic presence for Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League title hopefuls. His efforts have sparked talk of interest from Real Madrid and seen him billed as a contender for major individual honours, but the 26-year-old has been told by a fellow Senegalese that he must maintain these standards and secure major silverware if he is to join the global elite. Former Reds midfielder Diao told the Liverpool Echo: "I think he is up there, but sometimes - whether it is fair or not - the critics are saying he doesn't score enough goals. "I think this year he is doing it more. Even though this year he is on 20 goals, I think he could have been on 24 or 25 goals if you look at some of the chances he missed at the beginning of the season. "Of course, if we talk about Ballon d'Or, you talk about trophies and he needs to win trophies. He knows that. "And whoever plays for Liverpool as well, as a club, they have been starving for years for trophies and now is the right time. "Mane is on fire, Salah is on fire and now is a good time to bring a trophy back." Mane has finished inside the top three of the African Player of the Year vote in the last three seasons, with club colleague Salah pipping him to the prize in 2017 and 2018. Diao believes a lethal winger is capable of stepping up from a runner-up berth if he can continue to deliver on a consistent basis as part of a fearsome attacking unit at Liverpool. He added: "I think it's fantastic to see Sadio doing better. So this year he has stepped up another level and I think people are thinking he has been very clinical in comparison with Mo Salah. "I think the fact he lost the [African version of] Ballon d'Or, through that [lack of goals]. And that is where he has to be more clinical. "I think that hurt him a lot and I see him gaining maturity and people are seeing everything he can do. He is getting more versatile on the pitch as well and I see him doing a lot more as a striker. "I think they complement each other [in the front three] and that is just great with Roberto Firmino dropping off and Salah or Mane taking on those positions. "I think all that is helping him to be more clinical in front of goal." Mane and Liverpool will return to domestic action after the international break on Sunday when they play host to top-four challengers Tottenham.

Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has lauded teammate Fabinho for working hard to earn a starting spot in the squad. The Brazilian who joined the Reds last summer from French outfit Monaco struggled to play regularly on arrival as he had to battle with the Guinea international as well as Gini Wijnaldum, James Milner and  Adam Lallana for a place in the midfield. The 25-year-old has since become a consistent figure for Jugen Klopp’s men, having played their last 15 games in all competitions. And the former RB Leipzig player who like Fabinho joined the Reds last summer is impressed with the form of his teammate. “I’m very happy for him. At the beginning he wasn’t playing much but he worked hard, he never gave up and he was always there for the team. The last match, he put in a great performance,” Keita told club website. “That’s what we’re here for – to work hard and try to earn our place in the team. Midfield is an area where we have a lot of options, so that means no-one wants to get injured or give up their place. That’s an important thing for the team. When you’re in the team you know already how strong the bench is so you need to give absolutely everything in the game. “I wasn’t surprised at all by Fabinho’s performance. In training the coach is there for everyone and training is always good. It’s down to us to keep focused and play well in every match.” Keita has struggled to adapt in England with the Reds since joining the side from German Bundesliga outfit Leipzig, starting only 12 Premier League games. However, he has revealed how Senegal international and former teammate at Red Bull Salzburg Sadio Mane has been helping him to rediscover his form. “All my teammates have always been there for me, but of course I am close to Sadio, he has helped me an awful lot,” he continued. “He has spoken to me a lot and given me a lot of advice because he is more experienced. I’m someone who likes to respond to a challenge, I never give up or stop trying, even if things were a little bit more difficult at the beginning. I was in and out of the side but I was always with the team because if the team win, we all win together – even if I haven’t played. I have a collective spirit. “Sadio knows me a bit, we were at Salzburg together and we have now moved to another level. When he went off to play in England, I said to myself: ‘I’m going to play alongside you one day.’ All that has come from hard work and desire. “Now I’m here, I’m not going to give up trying. I’m going to carry on making the most of the gifts God has given me.” Keita will hope to be involved when Liverpool take on Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Liverpool will drop points between now and the end of the season, says John Aldridge, but they are still being backed to emerge victorious in a final day Premier League title battle with Manchester City. It has been suggested that the Reds will need to be faultless from this point in order to land a first top-flight crown in 29 years. With reigning champions City still chasing down a possible quadruple, there are considered to be few chinks in their armour. Aldridge, though, believes that Pep Guardiola’s side will stumble at some point during a hectic run-in, allowing Jurgen Klopp’s troops to do likewise. The former Reds striker told the Irish Independent: “Using recent form as a gauge, Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions appear to be firm favourites to win the title, but Liverpool’s return to the top of the table after their tense win at Fulham last Sunday was a timely reminder that Klopp’s men are not going to give up on this title race easily. “However, an unconvincing Liverpool do not look like a team ready to win every game between now and the end of a season that will be decided over a frantic 44-day period that starts next Saturday. “But on the plus side, City’s uncertain performance at Swansea in the FA Cup last weekend highlighted vulnerabilities in their line-up and if they do go 2-0 down against Premier League opposition away from home, they probably won’t come back in the manner they did against the Championship outfit. “The big question hovering over all of this is: Are Liverpool good enough to take advantage if City stumble? “I believe we can do that, however, I suspect we are in for a few more twists and turns before the Premier League trophy is handed over on May 12.” Aldridge added on a race that he expects to go down to the wire before delivering an emotional success for those on Merseyside: “I believe the Premier League title race will be decided on the final day of the season – with Liverpool one or two points clear of City before kick-off. “City will travel to Brighton on the last Sunday of the campaign and you would certainly expect them to win, while Liverpool have a home game against a Wolves side that may well have their minds on the club’s first appearance in an FA Cup final since 1960. “If this scenario becomes a reality, Liverpool fans can expect to be celebrating wildly at 5pm on Sunday May 12. “Yes, I’m predicting Liverpool will be crowned champions for the first time since 1990.” That is a bold call, but the Reds top the table at present with only seven games remaining. City are only two points off the pace with a game in hand, and both title challengers have Champions League quarter-finals to come – with the Blues also through to the last four of the FA Cup.