Liverpool’s senior staff have been impressed by the impact made by 17-year-old summer signing Marcelo Pitaluga and are watching the goalkeeper’s development very closely, as reported by Goal.
As Caoimhin Kelleher will tell you, Jurgen Klopp has few qualms about throwing an unproven youngster in at the deep end.
Liverpool needed a win to secure their place in the Champions League knock-out rounds when Dutch giants Ajax arrived at Anfield on Tuesday.
But rather than put his faith in the experienced Adrian with Alisson Becker out injured, Klopp instead decided to hand a European debut to a 22-year-old who was fishing the ball out of his net seven times in a reserve-team thrashing at Manchester City just three days previously.
Kelleher justified Klopp’s faith with a faultless performance in Liverpool’s 1-0 win, however, making a fine reflex stop to deny Klaas Jan Hunterlaar a late leveller.
But the Cork-born ‘keeper is not the only young shot-stopper who has caught the eye of the former Borussia Dortmund boss.
Teenager Pitaluga arrived in a £2 million deal from Fluminense this summer and has already been spotted in first-team training.
Goal claims that the 6ft 3ins Brazilian, who has represented his country at youth level, has made a big impact behind the scenes with Liverpool’s staff having been suitably impressed.
“Pitaluga is there on his merits. Liverpool had been watching him for a long time. We know the potential he has, the great goalkeeper he is and, even more, what he will achieve,” Muriel Becker, Alisson’s older brother, told Globo Esporte a few months ago.
“He is an excellent boy, from a good family, down to earth and he works hard. I’m sure he will make football history.
“We were very happy (to see him head to Liverpool). I am also happy that he will be Alisson’s companion, who will be able to help and accompany him. He is a boy who loves to learn, he is always listening. I am very happy with his success, he is deserving of it.”
According to UOL, Liverpool think Pitaluga will be the heir apparent to the £63 million Alisson at Anfield.
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