Andy Robertson has paid a glowing tribute to former Liverpool teammate Alisson Becker, labeling the goalkeeper the "best in the world" as Scotland prepare for a decisive World Cup group-stage match against Brazil. The Scotland captain, who will leave Liverpool for Tottenham Hotspur as a free agent this summer, spoke emotionally about the eight years they spent together at Anfield.
Robertson Praises Alisson's Impact at Liverpool
"I was very lucky to play with Ali for the last eight years and in big moments Ali was always there for us," Robertson said. "Even when our defence was at its best sometimes teams would get through and we would always rely on Ali to go and make the saves."
Robertson highlighted not only Alisson's on-field prowess but also his character: "He's an unbelievable goalkeeper, an even better person. Someone that I admire so much, he and his family, I'm really lucky to be close to them and they're fantastic people."
Scotland's World Cup Hopes Hinge on Brazil Result
Scotland need at least a draw against the five-time world champions to guarantee advancement from Group C. The match takes place in Miami, with Brazil managed by Carlo Ancelotti and Alisson expected to start. Robertson acknowledged the challenge but expressed belief in his team's ability.
"I hope he's picking the ball out of the net maybe a couple of times tomorrow, more usual than I'm used to, but he's the best keeper in the world for me and he has been for so many years," Robertson said. "I can't speak highly enough of him as a player and a person. But like I said, hopefully tomorrow he doesn't keep a clean sheet."
Robertson's Light-Hearted Take on Facing Alisson
Robertson joked about his own shooting struggles against Alisson in training: "I'd like to think the (Brazil) squad respects me, but I'm not sure how much they respect my shooting. I don't think they'll take any advice off me on how to beat Alisson. I've trained with him for eight years and I can count on one hand how many I've scored against him in training. I've certainly not cracked it yet!"
He added: "But when our strikers come to shoot, hopefully they can get the better of him. When a chance comes, hopefully we can take it. We're coming up against the best keeper in the world. But we have to believe we can score against Brazil. If we don't, there's no point showing up. That's our aim. If we can do that hopefully it can be a big night for our country. But we know how difficult the task is and the team we're playing against. They have world-class individual quality in every position."
