"Is Alisson worth €50m? Don’t be silly, he’s worth far more than that - I don’t think many people have realised who Alisson is. This guy is a phenomenon. He is the Number One of Number Ones. He is the Messi of goalkeepers, because he has the same mentality as Messi. He is a goalkeeper who can define an era."
Some may have thought there was a touch of hyperbole about the comment from former AS Roma goalkeeping coach Roberto Negrisolo back when Liverpool were first linked, but five years into Alisson's Anfield stay no one is questioning the glowing assessment now.
To many, Alisson IS modern Liverpool. He is the Jurgen Klopp signing that most fans feel turned the Reds from a top four regular to a triumphant title challenger. Between their last league title in 1990 and his arrival in 2018, Liverpool had gone through a plethora of goalkeepers, many of whom were more than capable.
But they just didn't have it all, not like the Brazilian that lines up between the sticks for the club nowadays. Alisson commands his area, dominantes his penalty box and good luck trying to beat him in a one on one. His imposing physical presence has been the downfall of a number of opposition strikers during his five years on Merseyside.
During Liverpool's memorable title-winning 2019/20 campaign, Sky Sports regular and Manchester United legend Gary Neville waxed lyrical over Alisson and insisted he was the reason Liverpool's 30-year wait for a league crown came to an end.
"Best by a mile," he told Sky Sports. "When you have an outstanding goalkeeper the difference it makes is off the scale.
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"From a good goalkeeper to a great goalkeeper, the points that you'll win is unquantifiable. Alisson does that week in, week out. Even at Crystal Palace on Saturday, Liverpool were by far the better team but there was a 20 minute period at the start of the game when there was a couple of moments where Alisson makes a save, where if that goes in then things could change.
"He makes save after save, good decision after good decision, he's made the fewest errors, and he gives complete assurance and authority to everybody else in that team
"It's the most difficult decision on the pitch, but for a top team that's going to win the league or the Champions League, I don't know how you're going to win without having an amazing goalkeeper, and he's an amazing goalkeeper."
In his first two seasons at the club, Alisson got his safe hands on both the Premier League and the Champions League. The silverware has dried up since then and the Reds have struggled to regain the kind of form that made them the best team on the continent at one stage.
Last term was a particularly difficult one, with Liverpool missing out on Champions League football for the first time since Alisson's arrival, though he was hardly to blame.
In actual fact, Klopp went on the record and declared that had it not been for his goalkeeper, things would have been much worse, showing he is clearly in full agreement with Nevilla regarding Alisson's status as a 'great', rather than just 'good'.
"He is the most consistent player we have this season," Klopp conceded at the back end of last term. "If his level dropped as well we would be completely lost."
In both the good and bad times, Alisson has proven he is Liverpool's Mr. Reliable. Rarely is the former Roma man ever guilty of a disastrous error that has cost his club.
It is for that reason he is already a legend in the eyes of the Anfield faithful and will most likely have his spot between the sticks for as long as he likes.
