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Alisson Becker optimistic ahead of new season as Liverpool face Newcastle United in league opener

First-half goals from Cody Gakpo and debutant Jeremy Jacquet secured victory for the Reds in their final friendly before next weekend’s Premier League opener away at Newcastle United

Alisson Becker expressed his optimism for the season ahead after Liverpool rounded off their pre-season schedule with a 2-0 win over Como 1907 at Anfield.

First-half goals from Cody Gakpo and debutant Jeremy Jacquet secured victory for the Reds in their final friendly before next weekend’s Premier League opener away at Newcastle United.

The match will mark Andoni Iraola’s first competitive game in charge of Liverpool.

Following the victory over Como, Alisson was asked if he is excited for 2026-27 and the goalkeeper told Liverpoolfc.com: “Yeah, really, really excited [and] looking forward [to it]. But, feet on the ground – we dream big but we work hard, that’s the thing we have to do.

“Still we did a good game but we have still things to improve. We have consistency for not maybe for the full game, but we’re going to get there.

“The best thing is winning with the space to improvement and we need to go with that mentality for the first game against Newcastle.”

The No.1 continued: “That [defeating Como] was important for us. We didn’t have great results in pre-season, everybody knows how tough it is to play during pre-season.

“We are training really hard, we’ve been training really hard in the last weeks, in the last month. All the lads did a great job and tonight it was good for us to get a little bit of confidence, we know how important this is, and to get a win with a clean sheet as well.”

Alisson Becker believes an improved collective performance helped the Reds overcome Cesc Fabregas’ side.

“It was better, a little bit more consistency on the things we did,” he added.

“Of course we played against a really strong team on the ball. Not many teams are going to keep the ball against us if we play with the right attitude, with the right plan, on the way we are preparing, with the intensity we are preparing for.

“But they played really well, it was a tough game for us. We managed to not give them away too many easy chances.

“The chances they had, we always had a player on the challenge [and] that’s important, it makes my job easier. And also up front we were clinical on the finishes and getting the win, that’s an important thing for us.”

Jacquet and fellow new defensive signing Ronald Araujo each played a half, with Alisson Becker impressed by both players’ performances.

The Brazil international said: “Both of them played really, really well. Jeremy had a great first half, great on the ball, great defending as well, controlling the space in behind [and] in front of him as well. Great, great performance.

“Ronald as well had a really good game in the second half… it’s really good to have a strong centre-back to help the team, in depth as well. That’s what we need if we want to compete for the trophies this season – that’s what we want, that’s the mentality of Liverpool players.

“And playing alongside Virgil [van Dijk], I think is a great thing for them as well, so I’m really happy for them. We’re going to need all the players [and] the boys did well.

“Jeremie [Frimpong] did well, the back four did really well, Milos [Kerkez], the players in the midfield. We run a lot, we fight a lot to get the result, and that’s the spirit we have to keep on going for the next games.”

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Joseph Agbobli

Joseph Agbobli specializes in exclusive and original stories, including in-depth interviews. Over the years, he has had the privilege of interviewing some of football’s biggest names, including Glen Johnson, Emile Heskey, Chris Sutton, Tim Sherwood, and more.

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