Alisson Becker has praised the immediate impact Federico Chiesa has had on the Liverpool squad while also expressing his concerns about the latest expansion of the Champions League.
Liverpool return to Europe’s elite competition on Tuesday evening after a year’s absence.
The Reds will face AC Milan at the San Siro in their opening match of the newly formatted league stage.
Chiesa, who joined Liverpool from Serie A side Juventus in a £10 million move just before last month’s transfer deadline, is included in the matchday squad for the first time.
Alisson Becker has been impressed with the 26-year-old Italy international’s quality in training sessions.
The Brazil goalkeeper said: “I don’t need to give you any introduction about Federico Chiesa, he is a wonderful player and you know him much better than I do.
“In the past years, he has proven his quality.
“He got injured, he had some ups and downs, lately he had some bad periods, but the way he landed in Liverpool was extremely positive to me.
“He arrived in our squad with a huge smile painted on his face.
“Everybody is enthusiastic about Federico and he is extremely happy having this chance to play in this squad. His quality he shows every day.
“We are lucky to count on him.
“He is a top level player who can help our team.”
This season, the Champions League has undergone a major revamp, with 36 teams now competing in a single league format for the opening stage.
Each team will face eight different opponents – four at home and four away – an increase from the six matches played in the previous group stage.
Alisson has expressed concerns that this change reflects a disregard for the welfare of top-level players and has called for discussions on the increasing fixture congestion.
“For the supporters, it’s amazing,” he said.
“More games, more bigger games, big teams playing each other, and it’s a good thing as a player you are playing against the best.
“It’s always a good idea to add some games to the calendar that is not busy – I’m being ironic a little bit!
“Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games so maybe our opinion doesn’t matter.
“But everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody is tired of that.”
Alisson Becker added: “It is a matter to sit down together and listen to all the arguments.
“We understand we have the side of the media from TV, the side from UEFA, FIFA, the Premier League, domestic competitions.
“We are not stupid, we understand that.
“We understand people want more games.
“The reasonable thing would be all the people who are responsible for organising the calendar to sit together and listen to everyone, including the players.
“So many players have spoken already about that and we just need to be listened to.
“That’s what we would like to do, to sit together and understand what is the thinking of the direction football wants to go.
“Not only adding games, but competitions.
“What we want is to give our best to football. If you are tired you can’t compete at a high level.
“I want to give my best in all the games I play.
“But we need a solution to that and it doesn’t look like we are close to a good solution for the football’s sake and the players’ sake.”
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