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Jürgen Klopp will keep taking Liverpool risk regardless of injury and Man City moment shows why

It was already a nervy final few moments for Liverpool against Manchester City, but that anxiety went through the roof when Alisson went down with an apparent muscle complaint. Jürgen Klopp had used all five substitutes, and there was the prospect of at least one more corner to face.

Whipped in with pace, a glancing header from Erling Haaland flashed across the Liverpool goal and behind. The last seconds were played at the right end of the pitch — with half an opening even threatening to emerge for Luis Díaz in the final act of the game — and the immediate fear was over.

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But then another creeping dread set in. How bad was Alisson’s issue? Entering the festive period, there could hardly be a worse time for Klopp to lose him, with games set to come thick and fast.

As of yet, there is still no update on the injury. Caoimhín Kelleher would already have been expected to take the gloves in midweek, but beyond that the future is uncertain.

However, one thing does remain clear. Regardless of the identity of the man between the sticks, Klopp will continue to demand the same things from his goalkeeper.

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That came into question somewhat against Manchester City, where Alisson repeatedly played his way into trouble. Most egregious was a scuffed pass straight to Phil Foden, who should really have given Pep Guardiola’s side the lead.

When Manchester City did go ahead, it came from another Alisson error. This was not really an example of Liverpool trying to be intricate; the Brazilian was actually trying to be as direct as possible, looking to set Mohamed Salah away on the break after an opposition corner. Nevertheless, it was another instance of Klopp’s keeper backing his technique, only to find it wanting.

Dean Saunders was scathing in his assessment on talkSPORT
“You should have seen Alisson yesterday. He looked like he’d been on a ten-day cruise, not on international duty!

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“Honestly, he’s a world-class goalkeeper but he made four assists for goals for Man City playing out from the back. But whose fault is it? Is it the manager or is it the goalkeeper?”

There’s no denying that Alisson was a little out of sorts — perhaps the 12:30 kick-off after a sojourn in South America had something to do with that. But if Saunders is implying a wider issue with his willingness to play out from the back, he is wide of the mark.

For one thing, it’s been a long time since Alisson made any significant errors with the ball at his feet. But crucially, Klopp will have seen nothing to make him question his own philosophy.

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A key early challenge for Guardiola at Manchester City was convincing his goalkeeper and defenders that mistakes are okay. Only then can a team be brave in how it plays out — the belief being that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

Klopp seemingly subscribes to the same theory. And amongst all the bigger talking points against Manchester City, he was proved right.

In yet another hairy Alisson moment, Haaland got alarmingly close to nicking the ball off the Liverpool keeper. But in successfully shuffling it away, he created the holy grail for any football manager: space.

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With the fretting of the commentary team still ongoing, Liverpool flew up the pitch, Manchester City’s shape well and truly disrupted. The chance ultimately came to nothing, but it was one of the most presentable openings Klopp’s side fashioned all day.

In the space of a few seconds, Liverpool showed why Klopp is willing to accept the (very) occasional mistake from Alisson. The potential rewards are huge.

That’s also why Klopp once called Kelleher ‘the best number two in the world for how we play’. Like Alisson, he will also take risks in possession — and yes, he may also make mistakes. But that won’t change Liverpool’s approach, regardless of how long the Irishman is required to deputize.

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