Jurgen Klopp insists new Liverpool No 1 Alisson Becker is in safe hands with “goalkeeper maniac” John Achterberg.

The Brazilian shot-stopper is preparing to make his debut for the Reds in Sunday's Premier League opener against West Ham at Anfield.

Achterberg is tasked with getting the best out of the £65million signing and Klopp has reaffirmed his faith in the club's long-serving goalkeeping coach.

The former Tranmere keeper has faced criticism from a section of supporters in recent years when the form of Simon Mignolet and Loris Karius has come under the spotlight.

But Klopp believes Liverpool are fortunate to have Achterberg and he remains a highly valued member of his backroom staff ahead of the 2018/19 campaign.

“First of all, John is a goalkeeper maniac. He's working constantly,” Klopp told the ECHO.

“It's so easy. All the people in the pubs think they know and understand football 100%.

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“But if you asked them: 'What does a goalkeeper do?' They couldn't say more than 'catch balls'. They have no clue about goalkeeper techniques and all that stuff.

“John is the first in the building and the last to leave. 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.

“He's constantly in there developing, changing training programmes, working with the boys. For me, he's a fantastic goalkeeper coach.

“There's not any reason for criticism. He's also a fantastic lad.”

Achterberg joined the Liverpool Academy staff during Rafa Benitez’s reign in 2009 after 11 years of service to Tranmere and more than 300 appearances.

Kenny Dalglish promoted him to the role of first-team goalkeeping coach in 2011 and he’s retained that position under both Brendan Rodgers and Klopp.

Over the past seven years the Dutchman worked with the likes of Pepe Reina, Alexander Doni, Peter Gulacsi, Brad Jones, Simon Mignolet, Adam Bogdan, Danny Ward and Karius prior to Alisson's arrival.

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

In 2016 he became one of the first goalkeeping coaches in Europe to acquire the UEFA Pro Licence.

Klopp believes the pressure and expectation of life at Liverpool can make it a tough environment for keepers.

However, he's confident that in Alisson they have signed someone who will flourish and prove to be the long-term answer between the posts.

"I can understand that people are like this - if they haven't been happy with goalkeepers in the last few years that they think John is the reason for it," Klopp added.

"For sure, that's not the case. Liverpool is a difficult goalkeeper place or hopefully it was a difficult goalkeeper place.

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"Now we have found a solution that everyone is happy with – a fantastic goalkeeper.

"We are really happy in this moment and now we have to perform."