Once the most expensive goalkeeper in British footballing history, Sander Westerveld knows the pressures that come with playing between the sticks for Liverpool as well as anyone.
And the Dutchman, now a goalkeeping coach in South Africa for Ajax Cape Town, believes people are too quick to judge current Reds stopper Adrian, who has come under fire after he conceded seven times against Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Speaking on a special Blood Red podcast, Westerveld said: "The position of goalkeeper is the most difficult in the team. Everybody knows that the striker can miss open chances and a penalty but he can score one and he will be the hero.
"On the other side, if you make mistake at the back it is always you. Sometimes if you make a mistake you have to put up your hands and say ‘OK, it is my mistake, but it won’t happen again and I will get the points back next week’.
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"It was a bit harsh on Adrian. He played some great games when he came in for Alisson and he saved us in the Super Cup.
"Against Aston Villa, the first goal was an error and a mistake but we never lost that game because of the first goal. We have conceded early goals before but had the mentality of coming back but almost everybody played under his level.
"Conceding seven, you always look at the goalkeeper and he will not be happy with his performance but he was unlucky as well - three or four were deflected."
Westerveld also believes that because Alisson is out injured for a sustained period of time, this is now best for Adrian to find form.
Rather than coming in for a few games here and there, the Spaniard is going to be required to play for a period of four or five weeks, starting several matches in a row.
In that time, Liverpool's Champions League group stage fixtures begin, and they also travel to play Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League, among other important clashes.
Westerveld added: "Sometimes you are the hero and sometimes you are the villain. At this moment, it is a difficult time for Adrian, but fortunately it is not a one-off - he has more games to play and all the chance to make it right."
Liverpool face Everton next in the Premier League as they look to beat their table-topping local rivals at Goodison Park, following the conclusion of the international break.
