Liverpool ace Alisson Becker opens up on the Merseyside Derby

Speaking to the club’s official website, Liverpool shot-stopper, Alisson Becker spoke about the Merseyside derby and the occasion of a derby fixture.

Alisson said Liverpool needed to play the game, not the occasion, against Everton on Saturday. The Reds’ won both their encounters against their next-door neighbours last season winning 4-1 at Goodison and 2-0 at Anfield later in the season.

“You want to be part of a derby, you want to be part of the games where the atmospheres are always high from the supporters.  But as football players, we are professionals, we have to keep our focus on what we need to do and the things that we need to do.”

Alisson all in all has played six games versus the Toffees and he would look to get his fourth victory against them in his seventh meet-up. Always a high-octane fixture, the keeper also spoke about being professional and doing things “the way they need to do”.

Having said that, Everton are also not in the best of forms. Winless from five games, losing two and drawing three. But the Brazilian said these things don’t matter when it comes down to a derby and it’s “more about desire”.

Liverpool have had a shaky start to their season, having found it extremely difficult to pull off a win vs Newcastle United. They left it until the very end of the game to get the winner. Such things put pressure on the players in the long term, as they have to chase the game more often than not. Planning out phases of the game becomes crucial in moments like these and that is what Alisson had to say in his interview later on.

“We have to keep our minds clear to do what we need to do on the pitch, to use our skills, to use our best performance to get the three points. And not get away with the emotions that you get from a derby, but be smart, playing a good game and trying to win.”

“We know that every game has the same value at the end of the season. Every victory has three points, no matter if it’s a derby or not. We will fight for every game that we have in front of us to get the three points, to achieve our targets.”

Alisson broke it down into simple terms saying each game is worth three points and that is what the team will strive for. It makes sense as it would not bring the additional pressures like a final or a derby per se. And rightly, the team is thinking step-by-step and game-by-game.

This season will prove to be a proper physical endurance test for all players as there is the World Cup scheduled later this year in November and even the UEFA Champions League group fixtures have to be completed by then. At such testing times, fatigue will prove to be a major issue as to how teams cope with their preparation. Most players from Liverpool are participating in the World Cup bar a few like Mohamed Salah and therein, energy levels will be tested.

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Following the derby, Liverpool play Napoli in their first UCL Group game. A week later, Wolverhampton Wanderers come to Anfield for a league game. Liverpool’s last game before the international friendlies is against Chelsea.