Former Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet claims Alisson’s recent struggles are due to the same lack of defensive stability he suffered from in his time at Anfield.
Mignolet claims Virgil van Dijk’s absence is the key factor in Alisson’s dip in form – a problem the Belgian was used to before the Dutch centre-back arrived on Merseyside to change their defensive fortunes.
OPINION: Liverpool must settle for going fourth and multiplying
Alisson’s struggles have coincided with Van Dijk’s season-long injury – picked up in the Merseyside derby – and Mignolet believes his return will see the Brazilian goalkeeper back to his best.
“That (Alisson’s form) will have several reasons,” he told De Tribune.
“On the one hand, he has had a few injuries, but there is also the fact that they have been missing Virgil van Dijk for almost the whole season.
“That’s a chunk of stability that’s gone anyway. That was actually already a difference when I was there. Van Dijk came when I ended up on the bench.
“From the moment he started playing, we stopped goals. Liverpool with or without him is a huge difference, I think.”
Alisson kept a clean sheet on Wednesday night but his Liverpool teammates could do nothing to turn around a 3-1 first leg deficit at Anfield.
And Jurgen Klopp admitted to a tactical misstep which led to his side “trying too hard” in the second half.
The Reds boss thought his side were attempting to force the issue too much after the introduction of Diogo Jota and Thiago Alcantara as they went in search of the two goals that would take them through to a semi-final showdown with Chelsea.
“Second half we made the changes and the timing was maybe not right,” Klopp said. “We wanted fresh legs but we lost a bit of rhythm in these moments, we tried a bit too hard.
“In the beginning we didn’t try in these moments to pass the ball around their box. We needed the width.
“Tonight it was OK, but we are out anyway. We love this competition and it is for different reasons very important for this club.”
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