Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has every faith new goalkeeper Alisson Becker will settle quickly into the Premier League.
The Brazil international was, until Chelsea signed Kepa Arrizabalaga this week, the world’s most expensive goalkeeper following his £65million move from Roma.
His recruitment is seen as a key piece of business for Liverpool, strengthening an area which has been open to criticism for several years.
Alisson came to pre-season training later than the main group because of his involvement in the World Cup and has played just two friendlies against Napoli and Torino in the last six days.
However, Klopp has no worries about the 25-year-old making an instant impact.
“Just be a goalkeeper. Be yourself, in this case, because he is very calm and laid back – and that helps,” said the Reds boss ahead of Sunday’s visit of West Ham.
“It’s about making the right decisions in the right moments. It’s all good. He’s settled really quick, as if he’s been here longer than two weeks. That’s all fine.”
Alisson hopes he can prove to be a value-for-money purchase at Liverpool – just like superstar forward Mohamed Salah.
The Brazil goalkeeper made the same switch Salah completed a year ago when he moved from Roma to Anfield for £65 million (£83m) last month.
That deal made the 25-year-old the most expensive goalkeeper in history, although Kepa Arrizabalaga took that weighty distinction off his hands when he joined Chelsea from Athletic Bilbao for £71.6m ($91m) this week.
Salah cost the Reds £36.9m ($47m) – a fee that raised eyebrows at the time but is now considered a major bargain given the Egypt international’s stunning 44-goal campaign in 2017-18.
“Yes, it was a big deal for Roma, they had a record fee and they were happy,” Alisson said, as quoted by The Mirror.
“And I’ll work very hard to make sure it’s a good deal for Liverpool too, which is more important.
“I know that Salah was [thought] a good deal for Roma, but now people say it is a good deal for Liverpool.
“I want to work hard to ensure that yes, people say they paid a [bargain] price for me too, eventually.”
Jurgen Klopp isn’t sure what to expect from West Ham except “95 brutal minutes”.
While Liverpool were the summer’s biggest spenders with a £170m outlay, their opponents on Sunday West Ham spent £61m on five players, including the club-record signing of Felipe Anderson for £40m and the acquisition of free agent Jack Wilshere.
They also have a new manager in Manuel Pellegrini, the former Manchester City boss.
“One of the very, very successful managers on this planet. He knows how football goes, so he’s a really good tactician and coach. That changes a lot of things,” said Klopp of his counterpart.
“If you go through the West Ham team, it could be completely different.
“It could be Arnautovic in the ‘9’, Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson wide or Chicharito striker with Arnautovic behind in the ’10’.
“Behind them, Wilshere and Noble or whoever, then a new full-back, Cresswell back. It’s just a good football team.
“They are ambitious, clearly. People expect that we win, and we expect the same, but we know that between now and then there are 95 brutal minutes, and we have to be ready for that.
“It’s easy not to underestimate West Ham. Analysis is pretty non-existent at this stage, but no problem. I’m still looking forward to it.”