Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version or go back to LFC Live.net

Liverpool’s former director of research, Ian Graham, has revealed how the club nearly opted against signing Alisson in 2018.

The Brazilian joined from Roma after the Reds' Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, which was due in part to two huge goalkeeping errors from Loris Karius.

That summer, a new keeper was identified as a crucial addition, and within two years, Liverpool won the Premier League and Champions League.

Alisson played a huge role in those successes and continues to impress for Arne Slot’s side, with many believing he is the best goalkeeper in the league.

So he was a world-class goalkeeper,” Graham told the High Performance Podcast.

“There were two options, him or Oblak, who was at Atletico at the time, still is.

They’re both world-class at it, both a huge upgrade on our current goalkeepers.”

Oblak, like Alisson, is one of the globe’s top goalkeepers and is now closing in on 500 appearances for Atletico

The Slovenian has been voted in the Champions League Squad of the Season on three separate occasions.

As for Graham, he left Liverpool in 2023, having headed the research department for a decade

Ian Graham, Liverpool's former Director of Research