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Liverpool finally stop the rot of signing awful goalkeepers

Not since Pepe Reina have Liverpool had a goalkeeper they can rely on

It’s official, Liverpool have signed Alisson for a world record fee of £66.8million.

And my god they needed it.

Not only could Alisson propel them to the title, but he is the only decent goalkeeper they’ve signed in the last 12 years.


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The rest of the motley crew of shot-stoppers will make your eyes bleed.

Can you remember Liverpool’s last really good goalkeeper?

Nope? Well I’m here to tell you – it was Pepe Reina and they signed the Spaniard way back in the summer of 2006.

Donald Trump was still just the host of the apprentice and England were about to fail to qualify for Euro 2008.

Everyone makes mistakes

AFP
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Everyone makes mistakes

Back then Jerzy Dudek was coming to the end of his time at Anfield and there was a 23-year-old Spanish goalkeeper impressing with Villarreal on the continent.

Rafa Benitez snapped him up for £4million in what would prove to be a very shrewd move.

The beach ball incident notwithstanding Reina was Liverpool’s last reliable keeper.

Another iconic Reina moment

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Another iconic Reina moment

Reina made 394 appearances for Liverpool which included a UEFA Super Cup, an FA Cup triumph, one League Cup and the Community Shield.

They all count right, Jose?

He also won the Premier League Golden Glove for most clean sheets in a season three years on the bounce, long before the days of David De Gea.

After Reina it took Liverpool 12 years to sign that might actually keep clean sheets.

And everything in between will leave you unsure whether to laugh or cry.

Charles Itandje

Pretty much sums up Charles Itandje’s time at Anfield

Times Newspapers Ltd
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Pretty much sums up Charles Itandje’s time at Anfield

Charles Itandje moved to Liverpool after a promising spell with Lens in Ligue 1.

But England is a different prospect.

During his three years at Liverpool he made a total of seven appearances, none of which came in the league.

Now spends his time moving between Greek and Turkish clubs.

Diego Cavalieri

Here comes the Cavalieri

AP:Associated Press
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Here comes the Cavalieri

Handed the number one shirt after Liverpool spent £3m on him in the summer of 2008.

Two years later left for Cesena without a single league appearance.

Highlight included playing 90 minutes against Macedonian side Rabotnicki in a Europa League third round qualifier.

David Martin

Who are ya?

PA:Empics Sport
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Who are ya?

Recognise him?

No us neither.

Brad Jones

We know the feeling Brad

News Group Newspapers Ltd
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We know the feeling Brad

The only other Australian keeper in the world that isn’t Mark Schwarzer.

Liverpool spent over £2million on Jones mostly because he qualified for the Premier League’s new ‘homegrown player’ rules thanks to his time at Middlesbrough.

Was sent out on loan to Derby and on his return played 15 times in 2012-13.

Conceded 21 goals and kept just four clean sheets, however was always used to as the replacement for Simon Mignolet when he was underperforming.

Now 36 he’s still playing in a top league at Feyenoord.

Doni

You don’t see enough keepers in trousers these days

PA:Press Association
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You don’t see enough keepers in trousers these days

Let’s hope Alisson doesn’t go the way of Doni.

Signed from Roma after earning the number 1 shirt in Italy.

Received a red card and conceded a penalty in only his second league game.

Lost his place to Brad Jones but it emerged he had had a heart attack during a medical in 2012 and almost died, was advised never to play football again.

One more stint at Botafogo before retirement for Doni.

Peter Gulasci

Red Bull doesnt grow your hair back unfortunately

Getty - Contributor
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Red Bull doesnt grow your hair back unfortunately

Sign for Liverpool, spend the next few years on lower league loans, move to RB Leipzig, end up playing for their second team.

Repeat.

Simon Mignolet

Two more inches to the right and he would have made that…

Times Newspapers Ltd
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Two more inches to the right and he would have made that…

It all looked so promising.

Liverpool thought they were getting the next big thing in goalkeeping superstars.

They ended up with the Belgian Manuel Almunia.

Mignolet was generally the number 1 for five years until Alisson turned up and he’ll either need to accept his place on the bench or start looking for a move.

Three runner up medals from his spell at Anfield. Ouch.

Adam Bogdan

Getty Images - Getty
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Bolton legend gets his big move to Anfield.

Sadly, doesn’t turn out too well.

Once saved three penalties in a League Cup third round shootout against Carlisle, now on a season-long loan to Hibernian.

Alex Manninger

Getty - Contributor
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The 40-year-old spent a year at Liverpool to maintain his fitness, then retired.

Say no more.

Loris Karius

Should be sold just for that barnet

Reuters
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Should be sold just for that barnet

Jurgen Klopp’s obsession with German keepers, hoping every one would turn out to be the next Manuel Nueuer backfired on this one.

Started to look in control towards the end of last season only to throw Liverpool’s Champions League final down the drain with two horrendous errors.

Liverpool fans will be happy to see the back of him.