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Alexander Doni wasn't able to achieve much during his short spell at Liverpool.

The Brazilian keeper, who was signed from Roma on a free transfer in 2011 as back up for Pepe Reina, spent just one season at Anfield.

His four appearances for the Reds during Kenny Dalglish's reign came in the space of six weeks in the spring of 2012.

Doni belatedly got his opportunity after Reina was dismissed against Newcastle but after making his debut against Aston Villa his joy was shortlived.

After being sold short by a backpass against Blackburn, he rushed out and upended Junior Hoilett. The red card wrecked his hopes of walking out at Wembley in the all-Merseyside FA Cup semi-final four days later.

Doni started against Fulham and Swansea during the run-in but never played for the club again.

He was granted extended leave by the Reds in the summer of 2012 after suffering a cardiac arrest during fitness tests at Melwood. Following months of treatment in London and Rome, his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.

However, Doni's links were Liverpool didn't end there. Arguably, his most important contribution to the club arrived after he returned to Brazil.

Before retiring at the age of 33 he had a short spell with Botafogo-SP and a young keeper in his homeland caught his eye.

Long-serving Reds goalkeeping coach John Achterberg kept in contact with Doni, who was a popular figure at Melwood, and during a conversation in 2013 he received a recommendation.

“John, you need to keep an eye on this kid at Internacional,” Doni told him. “He's going to be special.”

His name was Alisson Becker.

At the time he was just 20 and having come up through the youth ranks at the Porto Alegre-based club he had been handed his senior debut in February 2013. Initially, he was the back-up to his brother Muriel.

From then on, Alisson was on Liverpool's radar. Achterberg kept close tabs on his progress, regularly watching hours of action from the Brazilian League and it was the Dutchman who first mentioned him to the club's recruitment staff as a potential target.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

“John is a goalkeeper maniac,” Jurgen Klopp recently told the ECHO.

“He's working constantly. No matter how early I get into Melwood, I get up the stairs and he's already there - sat there with the laptop open watching goalkeepers from the other end of the world.”

Liverpool have played down suggestions that they could have signed Alisson for a modest fee prior to his 7million Euros move from Internacional to Roma in the summer of 2016.

The Reds insist they were fully aware of his imminent switch to Europe but he wouldn't have got a work permit to play in England at that time.

Second choice to Wojciech Szczesny during his first season in Rome, Alisson rarely featured in 2016/17 but last term he flourished in the Eternal City.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The scouting reports became more frequent and more glowing. It was his commanding performances in the Champions League which saw him rocket to the top of the Reds' list.

Klopp spoke in recruitment meetings with sporting director Michael Edwards and FSG president Mike Gordon about only wanting to pursue 'a game changer' when it came to a keeper.

The manager didn't see the point in spending a load of cash on someone who wasn't significantly better than what he already had. Edwards and Gordon agreed.

If Alisson or Jan Oblak weren't available then Klopp was happy to stick with the personnel already at his disposal. The likes of Jack Butland or Kasper Schmeichel weren't seriously considered.

(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

The Reds initially walked away from negotiations with Roma for Alisson after being quoted £90million by sporting director Monchi in May and then £75million in June.

But when the asking price dropped again last month they moved swiftly to thrash out a £65million deal - £56million guaranteed and potentially a further £9million in add-ons.

It already looks to be a shrewd investment. Allison has settled quickly and with back-to-back clean sheets is inspiring confidence in those around him.

Doni's advice proved to be spot on.