Slot makes Alisson fitness joke as he SLAMS Liverpool’s performance in Girona | OneFootball

Arne Slot joked his Liverpool players were testing goalkeeper Alisson’s fitness levels after he returned to preserve the Reds’ 100% record in the Champions League.

Liverpool were far from their fluent best in Girona and were fortunate to go into half-time level, before Mo Salah converted from the spot just past the hour mark to hand the visitor’s the lead.

Alisson, who hadn’t featured since the October victory at Crystal Palace, pulled off a string of fine saves throughout, prompting Slot to heavily criticise the performance of his outfield team mates.

“I said out of a bit of a joke that maybe the players wanted to see how fit he [Alisson] really was, so to give him so much work but of course that was not our plan,” he told reporters.

“He showed again today why I said so many times that he’s our first goalkeeper.

“That has nothing to do with Caoimhín, he did so well but Alisson has been so important for this club for so many years and for his country as well.

“He showed today that he’s probably one of the best, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the world.

“Let’s hope he can continue to bring these performances, let’s even hope more that he can stay fit.”

Victory in Spain was Liverpool’s sixth consecutive Champions League win and has all but secured their passage through to the last 16.