Liverpool have ended their pre-season on a winning note, but goalkeeper Alisson Becker insists the Reds must keep improving if they are to compete for major honours in the new campaign.
The Reds defeated Como 1907 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, with Cody Gakpo and debutant Jeremy Jacquet scoring in the first half.
The victory brought Liverpool’s pre-season schedule to a close after six friendlies, giving new head coach Andoni Iraola one final competitive-style test before the real action begins.
Next up is a trip to Newcastle United for Liverpool’s opening Premier League fixture.
And while Alisson welcomed the result against Como, the Brazil international was quick to stress that Liverpool cannot afford to become complacent.
The experienced goalkeeper believes the win provides confidence, but only if Liverpool combine it with hard work and greater consistency.
“Yeah, really, really excited [and] looking forward [to it]. But, feet on the ground – we dream big but we work hard, that’s the thing we have to do,” Alisson told Liverpoolfc.com after being asked about his feelings ahead of the 2026-27 season.
“Still we did a good game but we have still things to improve. We have consistency for not maybe for the full game, but we’re going to get there.
“The best thing is winning with the space to improvement and we need to go with that mentality for the first game against Newcastle.”
That message underlines Liverpool’s approach heading into the new season: ambition without complacency.
Liverpool’s pre-season results had not always provided the perfect platform, making Sunday’s clean-sheet victory particularly welcome.
For Alisson, the performance was evidence of the squad’s hard work over recent weeks.
“That [defeating Como] was important for us. We didn’t have great results in pre-season, everybody knows how tough it is to play during pre-season.
“We are training really hard, we’ve been training really hard in the last weeks, in the last month.
“All the lads did a great job and tonight it was good for us to get a little bit of confidence, we know how important this is, and to get a win with a clean sheet as well.”
Liverpool will now hope to carry that confidence into their opening Premier League fixture.
Alisson was particularly encouraged by Liverpool’s collective improvement against a Como side capable of causing problems in possession.
The goalkeeper felt the Reds defended with greater discipline while also showing the attacking ruthlessness needed to turn control into goals.
He added: “It was better, a little bit more consistency on the things we did.
“Of course we played against a really strong team on the ball. Not many teams are going to keep the ball against us if we play with the right attitude, with the right plan, on the way we are preparing, with the intensity we are preparing for.
“But they played really well, it was a tough game for us. We managed to not give them away too many easy chances.
“The chances they had, we always had a player on the challenge [and] that’s important, it makes my job easier.
“And also up front we were clinical on the finishes and getting the win, that’s an important thing for us.”
The Anfield giants’ summer additions also caught the eye. Jeremy Jacquet made his debut and played the first half, while fellow defensive recruit Ronald Araujo featured after the break.
Alisson was impressed with both defenders and believes their arrival could give Liverpool greater depth at the back.
“Both of them played really, really well. Jeremy had a great first half, great on the ball, great defending as well, controlling the space in behind [and] in front of him as well. Great, great performance.
“Ronald as well had a really good game in the second half… it’s really good to have a strong centre-back to help the team, in depth as well.
“That’s what we need if we want to compete for the trophies this season – that’s what we want, that’s the mentality of Liverpool players.
“And playing alongside Virgil [van Dijk], I think is a great thing for them as well, so I’m really happy for them. We’re going to need all the players [and] the boys did well.
“Jeremie [Frimpong] did well, the back four did really well, Milos [Kerkez], the players in the midfield. We run a lot, we fight a lot to get the result, and that’s the spirit we have to keep on going for the next games.”
The Como victory gives Liverpool momentum, but the Newcastle clash will offer the first genuine measure of their progress under Iraola.
Six pre-season games have provided valuable minutes, tactical experiments and opportunities for new players to settle.
Now, the excuses disappear. Iraola’s men have their first Premier League points to fight for, and Alisson’s message is clear: dream big, work hard and keep improving.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
