Spalletti: Alisson showed he is a player we can rely on

Coach Luciano Spalletti offered praise for goalkeeper Alisson after the Brazilian produced a number of good saves in Roma’s 2-1 win over Liverpool on Monday.

The summer signing was one of a number of Giallorossi players to put in solid performances at Busch Stadium, denying Daniel Sturridge on more than one occasion as a late point-blank stop from Danny Ings ultimately secured victory.

And Spalletti was happy to praise the 23-year-old – after what was his first full 90 minutes for the club - although he noted that the former Internacional man still has things to learn at this level.

“Obviously he must still adapt to our style of play, he must still settle in,” Spalletti said. “Towards the end of the game he gave away a few balls – he should not just clear the ball but start the play for us, but that will come.

“But it is true he made some good saves, he showed personality and impressed from a physical standpoint. He is definitely a player of the quality of Roma, and a player we can count on.”

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp, who spoke to the media before Spalletti, had suggested after the game that the first-half was not necessarily of mid-season quality, with both teams perhaps a bit too open defensively.

Spalletti agreed with that assertion, but insisted his side will continue to work on a number of aspects that he was not entirely pleased with.

“There were many counter-attacks, both teams could have scored a number of goals on the break,” he said. “Both teams could have capitalised more [on that]. In the first half, in my opinion my team did not show enough personality, we could have moved the ball more quickly.

“Because a team like Liverpool can hurt you quickly if you do not take your chances.”

Nevertheless, the Giallorossi eventually emerged victorious. The boss said it was an honour for the club to secure victory against another big European side at a venue well known to American sports fans.

“It was a big pleasure to play in this stadium, it was a great, breathtaking venue,” Spalletti said. “It was an honour to play at a venue where such a big and successful team [the St. Louis Cardinals] plays baseball.

“We were definitely excited to play here. It is true the pitch was not perfect, but it is also true that goalscoring chances were created and quality football was played - which shows you that it was good enough.”