What Steve McManaman said when Liverpool paid £66.8m to sign Alisson Becker in 2018 now looks very interesting

Alisson Becker is the talk of Liverpool right now after a stunning UEFA Champions League performance in Paris.

The Brazil international helped Liverpool secure a 1-0 win away to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night in remarkable circumstances, with the French giants recording 27 shots compared to just two efforts by the Reds.

In total, the Liverpool No.1 made nine saves – with four coming from shots taken inside the box – and prevented 2.26 goals, on a night where he also completed ten long range passes, one of which led to the winner.

It was a special display by Alisson Becker – who has proven to be worth every penny of the £66.8m fee Liverpool spent to sign him from Roma back in July 2018.

At the time of that deal, Steve McManaman made a comment regarding the price – a world record sum for a goalkeeper at that moment – which now looks absolutely spot on.

The verdict Steve McManaman gave on Alisson Becker in 2018

Speaking to the Daily Mail back in July 2018, the man who made 364 appearances for Liverpool said: “Signing Alisson smashed the record for a goalkeeper, but players are worth what they are worth now, that’s just the value of good players – if you want the best you pay good money.

“Alisson is considered one of the best, so he’s worth it. Was Virgil van Dijk worth £75m? If you ask Liverpool fans the answer is yes, and you just hope the goalkeeper is the same. You’re hoping this cloud over Liverpool about the goalkeepers will disappear now, he could save the team ten to 15 points a season because of how good he is. I think it is the key piece of the puzzle for Liverpool.”

On a night where Liverpool were far, far away from their best in Paris on Wednesday, the South American proved McManaman right, showing just how valuable a top goalkeeper can really be.

If the Reds end up getting the job done at Anfield and progressing into the quarter-final stage, Arne Slot, who thinks Alisson is the best goalkeeper on the planet, will have a lot to thank his No.1 for.

Alisson Becker has forced Arne Slot into a rethink at Liverpool

As you may have heard, Liverpool already have a deal in place with Valencia to sign Giorgi Mamardashvili in the summer.

The Georgia international was signed amid talk Alisson could move to Saudi Arabia – talks were held.

However, TBR Football understand Slot could send Mamardashvili out on loan next season in order to keep the Brazilian glovesman around – given his superb performances this term.