Oblak, Butland, Alisson, Cillessen: Which Linked Goalkeeper Best Suits Liverpool?

Oblak, Butland, Alisson, Cillessen: Which Linked Goalkeeper Best Suits Liverpool?
18:05, 19 Jun 2018

Debate has raged ever since the Champions League final, over whether Liverpool should sign a new goalkeeper to replace Loris Karius, and over whether his concussion—sustained early on in the game before Real Madrid’s goals—played a pivotal part in the remainder of the match. In some ways, it’s an irrelevance on both counts. The Reds are going to sign a new stopper, as a challenger or a starter, and the match is done and gone.

Liverpool have been linked, from dubiously to relentlessly, with half a dozen goalkeepers this summer alone. A quartet in particular look to be most prominent, most realistically spoken about: Jack Butland of Stoke, Brazil and Roma’s Alisson and two LaLiga goalkeepers: Jasper Cillessen and Jan Oblak.

Which is best and which is best-suited are not necessarily going to provide the same answer, but it’s an important consideration for Liverpool’s future.

The undoubted elite

Picking one as the standout, Atletico Madrid’s Oblak is an obvious candidate. With a release clause of €100 million, his quality comes at a premium price, and rightly so. With top attackers - or even potential top attackers - now going for that price, one of the best two or three goalkeepers in world football should absolutely command the same price.

The Slovenian is incredibly consistent, is as safe with his handling as he is impressive with his reach and reflexes, and presents an impenetrable barrier in one-on-one situations. Is he best for Liverpool? If the Reds simply want the best goalkeeper, then yes. Mentality, technical quality and expectation to succeed will all be ticked off with Oblak. The very few question marks over suitability would come from his short-range distribution and speed off his line, given the stylistic differences in how the Reds defend under Jurgen Klopp compared to Atletico Madrid’s deeper, more compact approach.

Alisson of Roma is the more typical prototype, but at a similar price level, Oblak offers greater goalkeeping quality so would be the more realistic target. He also has a specific release clause, whereas Roma’s valuation of their Brazilian could soar due to World Cup performances, interest from elsewhere and a lingering annoyance at the low valuation of Mohamed Salah last summer.

If Liverpool are going to spend enormous, Oblak has to be the one.

Significant upgrades or pushing the squad?

Butland vs. Karius feels rather more like Klopp would be offering both an equal chance to become first-choice goalkeeper for the Reds.

It would be a step-up for the Englishman, coming from relegated Stoke, but Klopp has already shown with the likes of Andy Robertson that he can spot the quality and adaptable mentality among the dross. Doubtless it’s a signing that would be looked down on by some, but Butland has real ability and can reach greater heights than he has managed so far.

But a far better fit would be Dutchman Cillessen, currently the No. 2 at Barcelona.

Cillessen is a tremendous ball-playing goalkeeper, absolutely comfortable with short and long distribution from both feet and hands. He’s determined, brave and has good reading of the game, able to quickly stop danger with his good starting positions and quick feet off his line.

Excellent shot-stopping of comes comes as standard, and while his consistency can’t be compared to the likes of Oblak on account of being a second choice at his club, the fact he has continually helped Barca go the distance in the Copa del Rey showcases that he’s been impressive when given the chance and hasn’t made match-costing errors.

Cillessen won’t come as high-priced as Alisson or Oblak, and even if Barcelona do demand a premium to let go of a highly rated stopper, it’s absolutely worth paying. Competing with Marc-Andre ter Stegen—one of the finest last season around the globe alongside Oblak—will have pushed Cillessen’s belief, determination and probably his ability even higher, too.

The Reds have two options to drastically upgrade what has been a problematic position over the past couple of years: a record-breaking move for the very best in Oblak, or aim for perhaps the best-suited player they could discover in Cillessen.

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