David James explains why Alisson remains clear of rivals as Premier League's best goalkeeper

David James is convinced his old club Liverpool continue to have the best keeper in the Premier League in Alisson - despite the arrival of Champions League winner Gigi Donnarumma.

Liverpool have begun their title defence with three wins out of three, including an impressive victory over Arsenal before the international break.

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has snapped up Donnarumma, the keeper crucial to PSG ’s success in the elite European club competition last season.

But James, who spent seven years at Liverpool, winning the League Cup, maintains Alisson has the edge. “My favourite keeper for many different reasons is Ali,” he said. "Because he has all the attributes.

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“He stops shots, his distribution is fantastic, his composure is so admirable and if he makes a mistake, within three seconds you don’t know what happened.

“He is just so composed about things whereas during my career I might have been punching things or running round like a lunatic, one way or the other!

“But he genuinely, over many years now, has proven himself to be the best keeper and the way that Liverpool play, you need him. Ali was the only fit for Liverpool and that’s why they brought him in and had the success they’ve had.

“Having said that, there are other keepers like David Raya at Arsenal - we saw him against Manchester United - who are capable of making massively athletic saves.

"Obviously his distribution and stuff like that are terrific too. He is a very, very good goalkeeper. But for whatever reason, Ali is better. It's going to be very difficult for Mamardashvili to take his place.”

Alisson followed up a fine display against the Gunners with an even better one for Brazil against Bolivia, despite his side’s World Cup qualifying defeat.

The 32-year-old remains Brazil’s undisputed No. 1 and - despite the five time champions having already booked their place in next year’s World Cup - was again given the nod by boss Carlo Ancelotti.

It is all a far cry from Alisson’s uncertain early days at Liverpool in 2018, when the former Roma no.1 faced heavy criticism for trying to dribble out from the back in a game against Leicester.

He was robbed by striker Kelechi Iheanacho who went on to score. But Alisson’s reaction remains a key reason why James believes he is vital to Liverpool’s title defence, despite Donnarumma's arrival.

Speaking as he promoted William Hill’s Final One Standing predictor game, he added: “When you go back to that game against Leicester in 2018, he he was absolutely battered for making that mistake.

“But it didn’t faze him. On top of all that, he is a lovely person as well!

“So when you have all the professional attributes and off the field you have the personal attributes then it makes you a better person and a better player.

"The thing about Donnarumma is that with City having just signed another keeper, James Trafford from Burnley, I don't see where Donnarumma fits in.

"Because James can do all the things that Donnarumma can, I would argue, even though he hasn't been in all the pressure situations where Donnarumma has excelled.

"Look at last season for PSG, Donnarumma in the league was making few saves but conceding a few goals and was nowhere near the levels he was in that Champions League run. And nowhere near the levels he was when he was performing in the Euros finals.

"I just think that Donnarumma is the big game player. So if Manchester City want to win the Champions League final yes, Donnarumma is the keeper you would want in that position. Because James Trafford hasn't had that experience.

"But James has the opportunity to learn now. "

Final One Standing is the new Premier League prediction game, brought to you by William Hill, where football fans are challenged to pick one team to win each weekend for a chance to win weekly jackpots.

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