Jermaine Pennant believes Liverpool’s poor form highlights Alisson Becker’s importance, insisting results will improve once the Brazilian goalkeeper returns from injury.
Nothing seems to be going right for Liverpool at this moment in time.
Four consecutive Premier League defeats a sequence few could have predicted at the start of the season have plunged Arne Slot’s side into an early crisis, with performances and results combining to leave a fanbase restless and uncertain.
The optimism that surrounded the Dutchman’s early weeks in charge has quickly evaporated. Liverpool look a shadow of the relentless side that challenged for every major honour under Slot last season. And while there are several problems for Slot to address from midfield balance to defensive shape one absence is proving particularly damaging.
Former Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant believes that results will begin to improve when one man returns: Alisson Becker.
The Brazilian’s absence through a hamstring injury has coincided with the Reds’ alarming dip in form, and Pennant insists the void left by the world-class goalkeeper cannot be understated.
“We need Alisson like you wouldn’t believe,” Pennant, who is also a lifelong Liverpool supporter, told talkSPORT.
“He is probably one of the biggest players, we are seeing that now.
The goal Brentford scored the second one by Shade Alisson would be out there already. He’s at the edge of the box or at the penalty spot, putting that pressure on and making that goal a lot smaller.”
For all the talk of Liverpool’s defensive frailties or their struggles in front of goal, the difference between Alisson and any other option is often the margin between victory and defeat.
His command of the area, reading of danger, and sheer presence make him arguably the most important figure in Slot’s system and perhaps the club’s most irreplaceable player.
Everyone inside Anfield knows Alisson’s quality. He is widely regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers in world football a player whose calm authority has underpinned Liverpool’s modern success.
In his absence, Liverpool have turned to Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Georgian international who arrived from Valencia in the summer. The 24-year-old has not made any glaring errors, but he hasn’t offered the same assurance, particularly in moments of transition or when defending the space behind a high defensive line.
Under Klopp, and now Slot, Liverpool’s structure has always relied on a goalkeeper willing to play almost as a sweeper, anticipating danger before it develops. It’s where Alisson excels turning potential one-on-ones into simple recoveries with his speed off the line and exceptional reading of play.
Without him, that safety net has been removed,
for when Alisson might return, there remains no definitive timeline. The Brazilian has been sidelined with a hamstring issue picked up earlier this month, and while Liverpool are cautious about setting expectations, the typical recovery window for such an injury is around six weeks.
Liverpool’s medical staff are understandably reluctant to rush him back. Alisson has suffered muscle issues before, and given his importance, Slot will want to ensure he returns fully fit rather than risk a recurrence.
At 33, Alisson remains as influential as ever. His current contract runs until the summer of 2027, but there has been little public movement on talks over an extension. That in itself feels odd given how critical he remains to Liverpool’s structure both on and off the pitch.
Even with the club’s long-term planning and the arrival of Mamardashvili, few within the fanbase would argue against rewarding Alisson with fresh terms. As Pennant pointed out, his absence alone has shown just how much Liverpool depend on him.
