Alisson Becker has been speaking ahead of Liverpool's Champions League clash against AC Milan in Italy on Tuesday.
Alisson Becker during the Press Conference - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD1 training and press conference at AXA Melwood Training Centre on September 16, 2024 i(Image: John Powell/John Powell)
Alisson Becker has revealed the immediate impact Federico Chiesa has made on the Liverpool squad - as he questioned the latest Champions League expansion. The Reds return to Europe's elite on Tuesday evening after an absence of a year when they take on AC Milan at the San Siro in their opening match of the new-look league stage.
Chiesa is in the matchday squad for the first time since arriving from Serie A side Juventus in an initial £10million move shortly before last month's transfer deadline.
And Alisson believes the 26-year-old Italy international forward has already been showing his quality during training sessions.
Responding to an Italian journalist on Monday evening, the Liverpool goalkeeper said: "I don't need to give you any introduction about Federico Chiesa, he is a wonderful player and you know him much better than I do.
"In the past years he has proven his quality. He got injured, he had some ups and downs, lately he had some bad periods, but the way he landed in Liverpool was extremely positive to me. He arrived in our squad with a huge smile painted on his face.
"Everybody is enthusiastic about Federico and he is extremely happy having this chance to play in this squad. His quality he shows every day. We are lucky to count on him. He is a top level player who can help our team."
The Champions League has undergone a revamp this season with 36 qualifiers now placed in one single league for the opening stage. Teams will play eight different opponents - four at home and four away - an increase on the six matches in the previous group stage.
And Alisson believes it is a further example of the welfare of top-level players not being taken into consideration by the authorities and has called for talks over growing fixture congestion.
"For the supporters, it's amazing," he said. "More games, more bigger games, big teams playing each other, and it's a good thing as a player you are playing against the best.
"It's always a good idea to add some games to the calendar that is not busy - I'm being ironic a little bit!
"Sometimes nobody asks the players what they think about adding more games so maybe our opinion doesn't matter. But everybody knows what we think about having more games. Everybody is tired of that."
Liverpool Champions League special
Liverpool are on the hunt for their seventh European Cup. And this Liverpool Echo guide to the competition is the perfect companion to guide Reds fans through the new-look tournament.
We look at the key factors for new boss Arne Slot as he looks to add the latest chapter in the proud European history of the club, and the players who can help him achieve that.
We break down Liverpool's opposition in the league stage, look at the 10 top stars in the competition and also turn the spotlight on all 36 clubs battling it out for the trophy.
And, of course, we take a trip down memory lane and relive some of those wonderful European nights. You can order now with worldwide delivery right here.
Alisson added: "It is a matter to sit down together and listen to all the arguments. We understand we have the side of the media from TV, the side from UEFA, FIFA, the Premier League, domestic competitions. We are not stupid, we understand that. We understand people want more games.
"The reasonable thing would be all the people who are responsible for organising the calendar to sit together and listen to everyone, including the players. So many players have spoken already about that and we just need to be listened to.
"That's what we would like to do, to sit together and understand what is the thinking of the direction football wants to go. Not only adding games, but competitions. What we want is to give our best to football. If you are tired you can't compete at a high level.
"I want to give my best in all the games I play. But we need a solution to that and it doesn't look like we are close to a good solution for the football's sake and the players' sake."
Eight of the matchday squad who featured in Liverpool's last Champions League game - a 1-0 round of 16 defeat at Real Madrid in March 2023 - are no longer at the club, while Jurgen Klopp left as manager this summer and has been replaced by Arne Slot.
"A lot has changed in the last few years for us," said Alisson. "We didn't play in the Champions League last season and we are all looking forward to being back in it. We will do our best to try and win.
"Imagine something you really like to do and then you don't do it for a year, how much you'd be looking forward to doing it again. That's the way we feel.
"Playing in the Champions League is one of the reasons I came to Europe from Brazil. Not playing in it last season was really hard. But here we are again, qualifying from a really difficult league in the Premier League."
Alisson was critical of Liverpool's performance in the shock 1-0 reverse at home to Nottingham Forest on Saturday that brought an end to a 100% start to the campaign under Slot.
And he said: "Tomorrow is a big chance for us to go back to the good start we had in the season. In the last game we were far, far away from what we can do on the pitch in respect of how we played in the other games, and we know that.
"But football is quick and we have to be really focused on tomorrow night. It's always a problem for English teams to play against Italian rivals, so we need to be ready