Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has admitted that he thought about turning down the chance to sign goalkeeper Alisson this summer.

The Brazilian joined the Reds this summer for a then record fee paid for a goalkeeper, with Liverpool shelling out £68m to acquire his services.

It looks to have been a sound investment up to now, with Alisson looking like one of the best goalkeepers in the world and helping to make Liverpool look like real title challengers this season.

It was clear that the Reds needed a goalkeeper this summer in order to mount a title challenge, not least after Karius’ poor Champions League performance. However, the stopper might not have even arrived at the club according to Klopp, who claims Karius’ performance at the final almost convinced him to call off Liverpool’s search for a new goalkeeper ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.

“I didn’t tell Loris what he wanted to hear, but that is how it is,” Klopp told German outlet Kicker.

“The Champions League final had nothing to do with us getting Alisson. Even if he had won it and Alisson would have been on the market we would have still signed him.

“And how the people reacted negatively to Karius after the final, by trying to isolate him, that almost made me not sign Alisson and rather stick it out with Karius. But we had to be professional, our job is to have the best players on every position.

“Did the Champions League final mistake affect him badly? I don’t think so.

“There are worse things in the world, you should never forget that. We are talking about a luxury problem here. Who the No.1 is might be decisive for some. But it isn’t everything.”

However, Klopp is thrilled with how well Alisson has settled at the club – admitting that despite Karius being a great goalkeeper, Liverpool signed an upgrade in Alisson.

“Absolutely, Loris is a great keeper,” Klopp added.

“So what he made a mistake in the pre-season? A pre-season is full of mistakes, nobody is fit and you train all the time. Out-field players make tons of mistakes. Loris has to continue to work hard.

“Loris is now 25, at an age, in which keepers keep improving. All the best keepers make mistake, but sometimes timing is important in life.

“If Loris makes a mistake now, it isn’t cool. In eight years nobody will care. We are totally happy with him. ‘We simply identified another keeper, who is better, and signed him.”