Liverpool Names Three Vice Captains Under New Head Coach Liverpool’s head coach Andoni Iraola has announced the appointment of three vice captains to accompany captain Virgil Van Dijk. The new leadership structure includes Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, and Dominik Szoboszlai as the additional captains. Van Dijk will retain his role as the team’s captain. Iraola explained that Alisson’s inclusion as a vice captain is tied to the impact of recent rule changes on goalkeepers’ ability to act as captains. During a pre-Newcastle press conference, he stated that the new regulations create significant challenges for goalkeepers wearing the armband. “With the new rule, there is a big limitation if a keeper wears the armband,” he said. “If something happens in the opposition box, the referee has to explain to the captains what’s happening, all the decisions.” Iraola emphasized that the current rules place goalkeepers at a disadvantage, making it difficult for them to fulfill the traditional captain’s role. He referenced his experience with goalkeeper Neto at Bournemouth, where he faced the challenge of designating a different captain for each match. “I had one season with Neto in Bournemouth, and then you have to start every game to say a different player that can act as a captain, and this is not viable,” he said. Despite these constraints, Iraola expressed his commitment to valuing Alisson’s contributions to the team. He explained that the decision to name Alisson as a vice captain was meant to acknowledge his importance to the squad. “I wanted him to feel like we value him,” Iraola said.#liverpool #joe_gomez #virgil_van_dijk #andoni_iraola #alisson_becker
Alisson Becker Prioritizes World Cup Readiness Over Liverpool Appearances Alisson Becker, Liverpool’s goalkeeper, has confirmed that he intentionally missed several matches for the Reds last season to ensure peak fitness for Brazil’s World Cup campaign. The 33-year-old, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2018 for £66.8 million, has become a club legend with 333 appearances and multiple trophies, but his season was disrupted by recurring thigh injuries. Backup keepers Giorgi Mamardashvili and Freedie Woodman stepped in during his absence, while Alisson only played one match in the final two months of the Premier League season—the closing game against Brentford. Speaking to Portuguese media outlet Estadao, as reported by Sportwitness, Alisson admitted that his absence was a deliberate strategy to prepare for the World Cup. “Missing games for Liverpool was part of the plan to make sure I was ready for the World Cup,” he stated. The decision has sparked debate, particularly as Liverpool struggled with Champions League qualification in the final weeks of the season. However, Alisson acknowledged past criticism over his fitness and emphasized his self-accountability. “I am my biggest critic,” he said. “No one knows me better than I do.” Mamardashvili, who moved to Anfield two years ago, had limited opportunities to prove himself due to Alisson’s injuries. The Georgian made his Liverpool debut last season but has yet to secure a consistent role as the first-choice goalkeeper. Meanwhile, Alisson’s potential departure has drawn interest from Juventus, who are reportedly offering a three-year contract. Liverpool fans hope he remains at the club until his current deal expires in 2027.#liverpool #carlo_ancelotti #brazil #world_cup #alisson_becker
Liverpool : Giorgi Mamardashvili au bord du mur avant le PSG Giorgi Mamardashvili, recruté à prix d’or par Liverpool en été 2024, devait incarner le futur remplaçant d’Alisson Becker. Cependant, son intégration au club a été marquée par des performances décevantes, alimentant des doutes sur son aptitude à prendre la relève du gardien brésilien. Arrivé après une campagne exceptionnelle au Euro 2024 avec la Géorgie, le portier de 25 ans peine à convaincre sur les bords de la Mersey, où son manque d’assurance contraste avec ses exploits passés. Depuis son arrivée, Mamardashvili a disputé quatorze matchs, marqués par neuf défaites, ce qui place son bilan à un niveau inacceptable pour les attentes du club. Cette méforme chronique a poussé la direction de Liverpool à prolonger le contrat d’Alisson jusqu’en 2027, une décision qui a exacerbé la pression sur le Géorgien. Son statut de doublure de luxe, initialement conçu pour pallier les absences répétées d’Alisson, s’est transformé en source de critiques, tant internes qu’externes. Le contexte est encore plus complexe avec la concurrence de Caoimhin Kelleher, l’ancien gardien du club qui a été relégué au second plan. L’Irlandais, longtemps doublure fiable d’Alisson, a enchaîné des performances solides sous les couleurs de Brentford, ce qui a rendu les supporters nostalgiques de son retour. Mamardashvili, quant à lui, ne peut pas se targuer de résultats comparables, ce qui a alimenté un climat de doute autour de son avenir à Anfield. La situation se précise avec la perspective de la double confrontation en quarts de finale de la Ligue des Champions contre le Paris-Saint-Germain. Avec la blessure aux adducteurs d’Alisson, Mamardashvili sera titulaire lors de ces deux rencontres cruciales.#liverpool #paris_saint_germain #giorgi_mamardashvili #alisson_becker #caoimhin_kelleher
