Alisson believes that Liverpool’s recent streak of three consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League should boost their confidence for the remainder of the season, as they have addressed their initial defensive struggles.
The team kicked off the Andoni Iraola era with successive 2-2 draws against Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest, failing to lead in either match and displaying vulnerability at the back.
However, things have taken a positive turn since their 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town, thanks to a brace from Alexander Isak on September 4. Following a 0-0 draw with Fulham, they secured a 1-0 win against Bournemouth, Iraola’s former club, last Sunday.
This season, only Arsenal (4.04) and Nottingham Forest (4.8) have registered a lower expected goals against (xGA) statistic than Liverpool’s 6.12, while Leeds United and Everton are the only teams to have conceded fewer than their four goals.
Alisson has achieved the fifth-best save percentage in the league at 77.8%, and has prevented an estimated 0.8 goals based on Opta’s expected goals on target (xGoT) metric.
He made a fantastic save during the match at Vitality Stadium, reaching to his right to deflect Evanilson’s clever shot, and he senses the defense growing more confident with each clean sheet.
“Every away game in the Premier League is challenging. You need to put in a lot of effort, and this was no exception for us,” he shared with Liverpool’s website.
“It might not have been our best performance, but winning those gritty matches while keeping a clean sheet definitely boosts our confidence moving forward.”
A significant contributor to Liverpool’s defensive progress has been new centre-back Jeremy Jacquet, who was named Player of the Match after Sunday’s victory.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) September 21, 2026
Only Alexis Mac Allister (seven times) has won possession for Liverpool more frequently than the 21-year-old, who achieved six, tying with Ronald Araujo, and he also triumphed in three out of four duels.
According to Alisson, having a defender of Virgil van Dijk’s caliber alongside him has eased Jacquet’s adaptation to the team. “I think Jeremy played really well. Virgil, the back four, Ronald, Milos [Kerkez], and the midfielders have all contributed greatly defensively. Everyone puts in the effort,” Alisson noted.
“Jeremy has a lot of talent, but playing next to Virgil van Dijk certainly makes his job easier! Virgil has been a tremendous help to him as well,” Alisson added. “I also strive to support Ronald, who joined to strengthen our defense, and he’s been doing a fantastic job. We’re really pleased to have them on our team.”
Iraola is the first manager to remain unbeaten in his first five league matches with Liverpool (two wins, three draws) since Joe Fagan in September 1983, and he aims to maintain his positive momentum in the upcoming match against Manchester City on October 11.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it highlights Liverpool’s resilience and defensive transformation under new management. A strong defensive line is crucial for competing at the highest levels, and success could set the tone for their title aspirations this season.
Source: www.soccernews.com
