Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker is closing in on a return to first-team action after more than six weeks out injured but his short-term future remains clouded in uncertainty.
The club recently exercised the 12-month extension they had on the Brazil international’s contract, which was due to expire this summer, but that has not prevented speculation.
Juventus, managed by Alisson’s former Roma boss Luciano Spalletti, have been linked with the 33-year-old and last week Liverpool head coach Arne Slot did little to quell the noise, saying: “People who make these decisions take everything into account. They try to make the best decisions with the interest of the club.”
Here the Press Association looks at Alisson’s situation and why his future may not be as secure as it seems.
Fitness
A week ago Slot said the Brazilian was close to a return after his second hamstring injury of the season, which raised hopes he could be back in goal for Sunday’s trip to face Manchester United at Old Trafford. While the Dutchman denied age was a factor in the goalkeeper’s fitness, statistics tell their own story. Alisson missed 19 Premier League and Champions League matches through injury or illness in his first five seasons. He has been absent for double that number in just under three campaigns since.
Age
At 33, Alisson is by no means finished, but owners Fenway Sports Group have had a policy of not offering long contracts to players over 30, with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk the notable exceptions last season. The fact the club took the 12-month option rather than negotiate a new deal suggests they are looking to a future without the Brazilian and with him still under contract they could command a fee for the player.
Succession planning
The £30million Liverpool paid Valencia in 2024 for Giorgi Mamardashvili, even allowing him to stay on with the LaLiga club for an additional year, indicated the Georgia international was not being brought in to be a number two. Even as back-up this season he has made 18 appearances due to Alisson’s injuries, although he is now injured himself. He may not currently be at Alisson’s level but at 25 he has age on his side.
Squad rebuilding
As one of the senior players in the squad, Alisson’s weekly wage, while by no means close to the top earners, is significant and if Mamardashvili, estimated to be on almost half the salary, is to succeed him, it frees up more cash to be reinvested in new players. The signings made last summer were a conscious attempt to lower the age profile of the squad and if Alisson were to follow Salah and Andy Robertson out of Anfield this summer, that would drop the average below 25, with the potential for that to fall further if Liverpool were to cut ties with current longest-serving player Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Federico Chiesa.
