Adrian replacement? Liverpool confirm goalkeeper signing

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of a goalkeeper.

After Adrian gave away the first goal of the game against Aston Villa, supporters have begun to display an increased lack of faith in the Spaniard.

Alisson has been ruled out of the side for up to six weeks due to a shoulder injury that he picked up in training. This will be Adrian’s make or break moment.

He did well in his first stint between the sticks, but towards the latter end of last season that form turned into a slump. Mistakes against Chelsea and Atletico Madrid cost Liverpool games, and he hasn’t recovered.

Part of the problem seems to be his, and Jurgen Klopp’s, persistence with playing it out from the back. It’s clear Adrian isn’t suited to this tactic.

He’s a reserve goalkeeper and by definition he isn’t going to be as good as Alisson; maybe the team needs to recalibrate their thinking with regards to his role.

Fans have been calling for another goalkeeper to come into the ranks and they’ve finally got their wish, but it might be a while until we see Marcelo Pitalunga in the first team picture.

The Brazilian might have been signed as an eventual successor to Alisson, but he’s still a young lad and will start his Liverpool career playing for the U23 and U18 side – said the official club website.

Goalkeeping coach John Achterberg first noticed the youngster when he was playing for Brazil, and he saw good things.

"“I saw him for the first time in the World Cup squad. You’re checking all the goalies and looking at the ages.“You see that he was in the World Cup squad one year younger than the rest of the squad, then you think that’s worth a look because normally you have two goalkeepers of the same age.”"

If Adrian continues to make mistakes, how long will it be until we see the talented youngster given a call to join the seniors on a more permanent basis?

Pitalunga has already picked up some first team experience with Fluminense and he was picked as part of the substitutes for two games last season.

Interestingly, the 17-year-old played with Alisson’s brother, Muriel, and has trained alongside both of them in Brazil. Pitalunga came away with glowing recommendations, said Achterberg.

"“I asked Ali to speak to his brother to see how it goes and how he is doing. Ali spoke to his brother and Ali went training there. We saw a little bit from the training and the games he was playing for the reserves in Brazil.”"

Hopefully we’ll continue to see Adrian between the sticks, because that means he’s playing well and avoiding mistakes and that’s good for Liverpool.