Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker says this current Reds team is not a patch on Jurgen Klopp's all-conquering team that won the Champions League and Premier League… yet.
Arne Slot is doing an exceptional job at Anfield and his team visits West Ham on Sunday six points clear of second-placed Arsenal in the title race with a game in hand. But one of the surviving stars of the previous title, Alisson, believes they still have things to prove.
Asked if this season compares to 2019-20, when they won their first league title in three decades, Brazil's number one said: “I don't think it's too similar, they're two different teams.” Some players still play on the team, but we have a slightly different style now.
'More possession of the ball, before it was very simple: a lot of transition, a lot of intensity. That team was really special, we achieved great things, it was the first Premier League title for this club in a long time. We also achieved the Champions League together.
'I think there is no comparison between both situations. What makes me happy is to see that in this group of players we have the quality to do something special and the most important thing is that the commitment that is needed to win something is there, and the passion, the desire.
“We're hungry and we want to win every game ahead of us and that's the only thing we're focused on right now.” I think we don't have to compare ourselves to the teams of the past, we have to create our own history.
Alisson believes that the current Liverpool is still not as good as Jurgen Klopp's
Alisson was part of the Liverpool team that won the Premier League title in 2019-20.
Alison also won the Champions League with Liverpool during the 2018-19 campaign.
'This season, this group has to create its own story. The players who arrived brought a lot of quality, and what we are doing, what we can do, we are not going to erase the things we did in the past that were really special and will always be in history. of this club.”
The core of the team remains largely intact, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah still around and playing most weeks. But Liverpool have renewed themselves in midfield and up front.
Alisson, 32, is delighted with how Slot and company have given the team new life, adding: “I think when Arne joined the club, everyone thought it would be a tough job for him to replace a coach like Jurgen.” . .
“But he is showing his qualities and brings us many good things.” I think it is not just one key, but many things that are helping us achieve our goals. I want to highlight the commitment of this team, of the players, to do what the coach asks.
'Also go every day and train hard and have the desire to improve as well, to be a better team and the desire to win great things for this club. So that will always be an important point for a team that wants to be a winner.”
Considering his years at the club, Alisson also believes that previous title winners, who also went through bad seasons, can use their good and bad experiences to help them along the way in this quest for glory.
“We have some players who play here long enough, who experienced the highest peak perhaps of the Jurgen Klopp era, and also the lowest,” he said. 'So all these kinds of things can be used as an energy boost.
Alisson said he is impressed by the impact Slot has had since taking over.
Liverpool enjoyed great success under Klopp, who left at the end of last season.
“We know that in the future we will remember more of the good times you have had together in football. Winning is not everything, of course, but it is a big part of football, so I want to remember this team as a team winner.
'It's good to think about all the experiences we have. The good things and the bad, the good times and the bad times, they will teach you. I think the bad moments will teach a lot. So yes, we can learn a lot of lessons from last season.”