Alisson Becker gave the thumbs up and that was all Jürgen Klopp needed.
When Liverpool’s side missed Sheffield United at 7pm on Saturday night, fans were happily surprised with the presence of the Brazilian No. 1 in their goal.
After Alisson was initially forecast to be absent for the next four to six weeks earlier this month, he was back and ready to play on Liverpool’s backline again.
At a time when the champions are facing the likelihood of a season without Virgil van Dijk, Alisson’s return was just the right time.
Almost immediately, his name on the team sheet soothed some nerves in a fan base that never seems too far off Meltdown mode this season.
If Van Dijk is irreplaceable behind, so is Alisson.
The couple were instrumental in turning an attacking team fighting for honors into a serious team they won.
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At a time when one is on the road for months, that’s exactly what Klopp needed to get the other back.
“Adrian has done really well, but getting Ali back is obviously a pretty big boost for all of us,” said the Liverpool boss after Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sheffield United.
“It was almost three weeks when he was out and it seems we had 15 games in between!”
The Liverpool manager may have been prone to exaggeration on the occasion, but Alisson’s three-week absence resulted in him still missing four games in a time when there was also an international break.
But after initial concerns about shoulder surgery subsided, Alisson quickly began to get fit.
A call to the Brazilian squad on Friday for the November games may have indicated a willingness to return for his club before the team news fell on Saturday night.
After stepping up his return last weekend, the Melwood staff were delighted with his ability to dive and fall while training without shoulder pain.
Talks with the medical team, as they have become commonplace, indicated that Alisson would soon be able to significantly bolster Liverpool’s defenses.
“I was really happy when he gave the green light and said ‘yes, I’m ready’ because it was his decision,” said Klopp.
“I can’t tell if he’s in pain bouncing on the floor or whatever.
“It was his decision and he said thumbs up.”
One suspects that it will soon be Klopp who gives Alisson the thumbs up.
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