Brazilian goalkeeper's comical error led to Lyon's opening goal; Liverpool went on to win friendly 3-1 in Geneva
Thursday 1 August 2019 11:39, UK
Jurgen Klopp called Alisson's gaffe against Lyon "slapstick" as Liverpool recovered to record an "important" pre-season victory.
The goalkeeper returned to the Liverpool team after his summer exploits with Brazil in the Copa America, but his mind seemed elsewhere in Geneva on Wednesday night as he made an uncharacteristic howler within three minutes against Lyon in Liverpool's final pre-season game.
He allowed a routine cross to juggle out of his clutches which then gave Moussa Dembele the chance to nip in and the goalkeeper was late to the loose ball which resulted in the striker winning a penalty that Memphis Depay converted.
Roberto Firmino spared the blushes of Alisson with a tidy finish to level the scores before a Joachim Andersen own goal and a Harry Wilson cracker ended Liverpool's four-game winless run in pre-season ahead of their Community Shield clash with Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Klopp told LFC TV: "It was good to finish on a high - it was important. A lot of things were really good, although the first goal we conceded was like slapstick. Welcome back Alisson!
"He's looked brilliant in training and looked brilliant in the game but it was just one situation - he just needs to get used to his gloves again. Apart from that, it was a good game.
"Lyon played Arsenal and won there - we didn't make them look good tonight, but they are a good side. It wasn't the highest level we could play but it was an important step. I liked it."
Klopp was able to start Alisson, Firmino, Xherdan Shaqiri, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita for the first time this summer, while Sadio Mane has yet to return after his Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Senegal.
The return of the big guns upped the intensity following defeats to Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Napoli in pre-season and Klopp admitted his key men made a big difference.
He said: "You can see with Mo [Salah] and Bobby [Firmino] on the pitch then you have direction. Mo wants the ball and Bobby is around. Obviously it wasn't world class but it was an important step.
"Keita and Shaqiri are not injured anymore but they need training. We are in a bit of a rush now to see who is ready for Sunday and who maybe needs a week or more to play Norwich or Chelsea. Of course, there is no alternative to training, that's how to get fit. Mo looked like 45 minutes was OK for him while Bobby was alright after 30 minutes."
