Alisson Becker Highlights Challenges of Liverpool’s Summer Transformation | OneFootball

Liverpool Face Challenges Amid Transfer Frenzy and Alisson Becker’s Warning

Alisson Becker Highlights Challenges of Change

Liverpool have entered the new Premier League season with a fresh look and renewed ambition, but Alisson Becker has offered a candid reminder of the difficulties that come with wholesale change. With Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike arriving at Anfield, the spending has surged towards £300 million, while long-serving players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher, Jarell Quansah and Tyler Morton have departed.

Alisson believes the process of integration is far more difficult than it appears. “I think it’s hard,” Alisson told NBC. “Not many people talk about the changes we had in the team. Everybody’s said how good our team is becoming with new players coming in, but nobody talks about the challenge that this is. It is a big challenge.

“Last season we had the challenge of changing the manager, but you keep the players so you know each other, you just have to keep the same way of playing. The manager was smart in the way he did that and also implementing new things, it was easy for us to understand.”

The goalkeeper emphasised the adaptation needed for new arrivals. “I think for them to play, for Jeremie, for Flo (Wirtz) and for Hugo, playing for the first time in the Premier League, you have the physicality that’s a little bit different, the intensity. But they showed up so well, they played amazingly well. Of course with our help, but they showed that their qualities are at the standard of Liverpool FC.”

His words underline a truth often overlooked. Liverpool’s transfer work has been praised for its ambition, but Alisson has reminded supporters that bedding in so many fresh faces is a process filled with challenges.

Photo: IMAGO

Ben Doak Closes in on Bournemouth Move

Away from arrivals, Liverpool are preparing to lose one of their brightest prospects. Ben Doak is set to join Bournemouth in a £25 million deal, with only final formalities left to conclude. The Scotland international was absent from Liverpool’s opening match after the clubs reached agreement.

The Cherries see Doak as the perfect replacement for Dango Ouattara, now at Brentford, with Liverpool Echo reporting that Porto and Stuttgart were also keen before Bournemouth moved quickly. Doak impressed on loan at Middlesbrough and now looks set to continue his Premier League development on the south coast.

Marc Guehi Remains Committed for Now

Speculation around Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi continues, with Liverpool strongly linked to the England defender. However, Palace boss Oliver Glasner remains confident his captain is committed. “Ebs and Marc, there has been a lot of noise about these two players in the last week. Everyone could see the performances against Liverpool, and [against Chelsea] they were 100% aligned with this team,” he explained.

“As long as they are 100% committed, they will play as they are so good. I watched them all week in training. I spoke to them almost daily, maybe more than my kids and wife, but it’s been worth it to talk to them. They didn’t just show they are great footballers, but they are great persons and that’s what I expected.”

Guehi has just a year left on his contract, fuelling belief that Liverpool could yet test Palace’s resolve before the window shuts.

Photo IMAGO

Cohesion Will Define Liverpool’s Season

Alisson Becker’s honesty reflects the reality of Liverpool’s situation. Titles are rarely defended through talent alone. The challenge, as the goalkeeper has pointed out, is ensuring that a squad reshaped so dramatically can quickly become more than the sum of its parts.

For Arne Slot, the next step is not simply about adding names but about blending them into a cohesive side capable of matching last season’s achievements while chasing more silverware at home and in Europe.