05 Jul 2019 00:26:57
Just read an article about Alisson Becker.

Conceded less goals than anyone in europe, premier league and copa america. I have to say, and it might sound a bit sycophantic, but ed01 said last summer that our most important signing would be Alisson. Just goes to show, the eds know their football.

Karius or migs would not have made that save from Erikson's free kick, but Becker made it look easy. And we would've been out had he not made that unbelievable save against Napoli.

Sure he has the best CB in front of him and two high class, if not world class FBs, (Robbo 8mil! ) but he has to stay switched on, playing for a team that doesn't concede many shots.

Without doubt, he's the best GK on the planet, and 55mil now seems a bargain. 2/ 3 seasons ago we had one WC player, we all agreed, and that was pipco (he was way better in a blood red shirt than he is in a blue and purple one) But now we have at least 7/ 8 WC players. What a fantastic recruitment team we have. But more importantly we have the best.

1.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 05:55:13
Love Liverpool, love Allisson, and I love your enthusiasm Robbie, but there's a reason why Liverpool supporters get criticised for hyperbole and wearing red-tinted specs.
There certainly is doubt whether he is the best keeper on the planet. Personally, i wouldn't swap him for anyone but one bad season doesn't write off DDG and you can't ignore the likes of Oblak and Neuer. Allisson was superb at Roma and very good for us last season but you won't find a global consensus that he's the best until he's had a few phenomenal seasons.
Not sure who the 7/ 8 world class players are either. Id say VVD, Mane and Salah are arguably close to that description but who else could be termed as World Class?
Dont mean to piss on your fire btw, just think some of your statements are a tad over-hyped.

2.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 06:07:36
I would define ‘World Class’ as being in the top 5 in the world in that position.
Name me 5 better right backs than Trent Alexander Arnold.
Name me 5 better left backs than Andy Robertson.
Name me 5 better goalkeepers than Alisson.
We shouldn’t be afraid to big up our own players when it’s warranted.

3.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 06:17:28
@Like a Virgil: DDG has been poor ever since the World Cup, and sure, I'd still consider him a top 5 (top 3 even) keeper, but when compared to Alisson's superb campaign, it pales in comparison. As to Manuel Neuer, his performance levels have completely dropped off ever since he started accumulating injuries. I think at one point this season, he had the lowest save percentage out of all the keepers in the Bundesliga. I don't think he can even be considered as better than Ter Stegen at this point.

4.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 06:50:51
Thats just your definition, Thunderbird.
Others would suggest ‘World Class’ would mean the best 11 players in their position in the world or someone who is transparently better than other players regardless of position (ie. Messi, Ronaldo, etc) . Its a subjective thing.
Trent and Robbo are the best fullbacks we've had in years but both had poor spells last season and i doubt either would get in anyones world’s best players list outside of the UK.
Classic case of blowing things out of proportion, in my opinion.

{Ed025's Note - as per normal virgil..

5.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 08:35:19
well said robbie.

6.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 08:46:08
I tend to agree about the hyperbole surrounding our players and it's not surprising considering the season we have just had. Alisson without doubt had a wonderful season but he has more to prove for me.

It is a testament to how well all the cogs fit together masterfully by klopp that we have such a good team. The emphasis being on team, the sum of the parts make the whole so much better. Individually not all our players are the best in their positions, but the team brings the best out of them and it adds up to a fantastic team.

Hyperbole aside, we are not there yet for me, the bar has been set very high by Man City and us, but I believe it can be set even higher and the players we have, has the potential to do that, even without additions.

7.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 10:03:34
Virgil that's wet talk. World class is completely different to "best in the world".

So by your logic only 1 of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic were world class? They can't all have been the best.

World class has to be a selection. Top 3, 5, 10 whatever. However you wish to quantify it subjectively. But being the absolute best at what you do? That cannot be the only criteria for world class and to even suggest it is absolutely absurd and the most over the top statement I've ever read on these pages.

Go tell Thiery Henry he wasn't world class because Brazilian Ronaldo was better, and watch the look on his face.

8.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 11:06:10
Maybe you need to re-read my post, Plain Bread. My point was that the term ‘world class’ is subjective and so there are different criteria for claiming a player is WC.
The OP suggested we have 7/ 8 world class players in the team. I would guess that anyone who was not a LFC fan would pick one, maybe two at the most, who were world class. Personally, I would say Salah and Mane are close. Becker and VVD have had superb seasons but need a few more to be classed as WC. Trent and Robbo have been very solid but a little inconsistent and i've no idea who else in the team is supposedly on par with Messi, Ronaldo, etc, according to the OP.

9.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 11:55:09
Your right LAV we have 1 world class player VVD as he is so much better than other cb's around. Mane and Salah getting somewhere near. Allison needs to maintain his current level next season.

Trent and Robbo just need to keep progressing.

We have maybe only had 8-10 world class players in the past 50 years never mind all in the team now. In the whole premier league there might be 2 or 3 world class players.

VVD
Kante

Then its a struggle.

10.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 12:59:35
What a weird argument, with no one taking team composition and tactics into concideration. Under Klopp Alisson, VVD, TAA, Robbo, Mane, Mo and Bobby play at an absolute world class level. Would they in a Sarri team? Conte? Mourinho?

To illustrate furtgerher: Pogba was absolute world class at Juventus, under that coach and with those teammates. Not so much after his transfer to Manutd, ey?

{Ed001's Note - Pogba was never world class at Juve, he was the same as he is at United, it is just most people only saw the highlight reels. He is and always will be a highlight reel hero but 90min waste of space.}

11.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 14:07:01
I'd still say he was one of the absolute top midfielders in the world playing in a league where teams generally play at a slower tempo, in a team who owns the ball most of the time, where the manager had him and his ego figured out and two other central mids to do the stuff he is not that good at, and teammates with higher status to help keep his ego in check. If Chiellini or Buffon said "Run" 3-4 years ago you'd better run to put it simply.

He was brought in to be top dog for the mancs, in a relatively low profile squad, and a manager with absolutely no social skills. Not the right circumstances, hence not worldclass anymore.

Well that's my analysis anyway. World class is a context thing as much as individual ability.

12.) 05 Jul 2019
05 Jul 2019 21:07:30
i think its slightly naieve to say so and so couldn't make this or that save. Goal Keepers all over the world can replicate saves that other GKs make. like, I seriously think can make the saves Allison did.
But to me the difference maker is more about other areas of their game like catching instead of punch, minimizing minor errors, ability with feet etc.