Alisson exit hint dropped by former coach as Liverpool makes "smart" decision

While many Liverpool supporters will be losing their heads over the lack of incomings so far this summer, it’s also important to keep an eye on who leaves the club. The Reds can’t afford to lose any key men ahead of Arne Slot’s first campaign at the helm.

Granted, Joël Matip and Thiago Alcantara have both departed, but the combination of their age and injury records meant neither man could be a cornerstone of the new era. While there is no indication that Trent Alexander-Arnold , Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk will leave this summer, as they are in the final 12 months of their contracts then any big money offer would have to be at least considered.

Where Alexander-Arnold plays for Slot remains to be seen, but that trio could easily represent the main men in midfield, attack and defense respectively. It would also be unthinkable to lose goalkeeper Alisson Becker. Former Liverpool coach John Achterberg has hinted at how the Brazilian’s exit might have been a possibility.

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Achterberg left Anfield this summer to team up with Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League . The 53-year-old recently spoke on The Football Historian Podcast and explained why he made the move.

“It’s a good thing to do,” he said (via This Is Anfield ). “In the end, it was the right thing as well, because obviously Liverpool wanted to change the whole department basically.”

One goalkeeping coach who will remain at the club is Claudio Taffarel. It’s a decision Achterberg has called “smart” in respect of keeping Alisson on board.

“They were smart to at least keep Taffarel, because if they would also change Taffarel, they probably would have told Ali to find a new club basically. You have to be smart as well. It’s good, because Taffa’s a really good guy and it’s perfect that he’s there for them,” Achterberg added.

The Dutch coach also noted that the Reds’ number one had hoped he would remain with the club himself. “Ali wanted me to stay, he wanted to keep the whole department,” he said.

“The first day [ Jurgen Klopp ’s resignation news] went out was a shock for everyone, and Ali said ‘yeah John, but I don’t want to change anything, I want to keep everything’. ‘I understand’, I said, but when this happened, my contract was finished at the end of the season and I didn’t want to gamble on it, if you like, and hope and see what would happen.”

Alisson has been the subject of Saudi transfer interest, though that may dampen now that Manchester City stopper Ederson appears likely to move there. From what Achterberg has hinted, keeping Taffarel is the key to keeping the best goalkeeper in the world happy.

Liverpool.com says: While he won't be around forever, it's far too soon for Liverpool to contemplate losing Alisson. The Brazilian is under contract for three more years and chances are he'll still be elite in 2027. Let's hope Taffarel is happy to stay with the Reds until at least then too.