Liverpool are approaching a moment where they’ll need to think about replacing one of their greatest-ever players, and a 21-year-old prodigy could be the answer.
The Reds are in the midst of a transition – there's no denying that now.
It's clear Richard Hughes is radically moving on from the core group that delivered its recent golden era and preparing a new generation to carry that success forward.
We’ve already seen key figures like Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Trent Alexander-Arnold move on.
But that may only be the start. Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will follow this summer, with Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker potentially also up for sale, too.
Much of the attention has been on how Liverpool will replace Van Dijk and Salah, which has allowed the situation around Alisson to fly somewhat under the radar.
Of course, Giorgi Mamardashvili is already at the club and looks like a natural successor on paper. Still, there are valid questions to consider.
Is he ready to step up as the undisputed No.1? Or would Liverpool be better served creating competition, bringing in another top-level goalkeeper to challenge for the spot?
As the squad evolves, those decisions could prove just as crucial as any headline signing.
After Alisson's departure, bringing in another goalkeeper to compete against Mamardashvili makes the most sense.
The Georgian is still young for a goalkeeper and he may benefit from added competition and working alongside someone who is just as eager and hungry to oust him from the no.1 spot.
Right now, Alisson's contract expires in the summer of 2027.
So, we don't have to worry about replacing the Brazilian just yet. However, the reality is that it is looking increasingly more likely that he will leave the club this summer and the Reds will look to cash in.
There's murmurs of interest from Juventus, and other big clubs as well. For the right offer, Liverpool will sell.
There have also been times when it felt like Alisson has been open to returning to Brazil so it is something to keep an eye on.
Fortunately, Liverpool are well-placed to find his successor.
The club has an excellent track-record with goalkeepers and right now there is an outstanding young super talent in Europe's top five leagues who will be the perfect successor to Alisson's throne.
Let us introduce you to RC Lens’ 21-year-old goalkeeper, Robin Risser. The France U21 international has been a constant presence for a side going toe-to-toe with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 this season.
He’s played a crucial role in Lens’ strong campaign.
So far, Risser has prevented 4.56 goals in Ligue 1 – ranking second among goalkeepers this season.
He also boasts a 77% save rate, the third-highest in the league.
In many ways, he delivers exactly what you want from a goalkeeper: reliability, shot-stopping, and the ability to make decisive saves when it matters most. But there’s more to his game than just that.
He is very similar to Alisson in terms of his ability to come off his line. Risser is fast and he's very good in one vs one situations, meaning even when his defence exposes him, he can prevent the opposition from scoring.
At 21-years-old, he's still extremely young for a goalkeeper, but he is absolutely one of the brightest talents out there in European football at the moment.
Risser's ability to come out and smother opposition attackers makes him the ideal and inevitable Alisson heir.
It won't be easy for anyone to live up to the Brazilian's reputation. There will be a lot of pressure on whoever does it. Alisson is a club legend for everything that he achieved at Anfield and he has single-handedly saved the Reds at times.
