Liverpool fans’ attention was focused squarely on their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, but just over half an hour before kick-off, there was one piece of news that Kopites will very much welcome.
Usually the first fortnight of September is (for the most part) is an international window, but adjustments to the football calendar mean that a single, extended break will instead take place later this month and continue into the start of October.
The Reds have three more matches to play before their season is paused for three weeks, with many of Andoni Iraola’s squad set to represent their countries, but one regular starter will have some time off around then.
Just before 7:30pm on Wednesday, the official X account of the Brazil national team published the squad for the Selecao’s upcoming friendlies away to Australia (x2) and India, and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is conspicuous by his absence.
Explaining the decision not to call up the 33-year-old, head coach Carlo Ancelotti said (via ESPN): “We know Alisson very well, and when the competitions like the Copa America come, if he remains being the best goalkeeper in Brazil, Alisson will play. Right now, however, we have to prioritise the younger ones.”
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The former Everton boss will have put a smile on the faces of Liverpool fans by excluding our number 1 for Brazil’s upcoming fixtures, which would’ve seen the goalkeeper travel thousands of miles for three friendlies with zero relevance to any international tournament.
Alisson has already been capped 83 times for his country, so it’s not as if Ancelotti would’ve learned anything new from playing him against Australia and India, and thankfully the Selecao boss has recognised that.
Considering the injury problems he’s had over the last couple of years, it’s not unthinkable that the ‘keeper might’ve suffered another issue on international duty which would’ve ruled him out of some crucial fixtures for the club who pay his wages.
He underlined his importance to Liverpool again last night with a top-class save to deny Julian Alvarez when the Reds were trailing 1-0 against Atletico, a moment which ultimately proved to be a turning point as Iraola’s side overturned that deficit to win 2-1.
While Ancelotti gets a look at the next generation of Brazil goalkeepers, we can rest easy in the knowledge that Alisson will enjoy some well-earned downtime later this month and be refreshed for Manchester City’s visit to Anfield when the club season resumes in October.
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