Alisson talks up "really special" young Liverpool goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga

Alisson has praised Liverpool's promising young goalkeeper Marcelo Pitaluga.

The Brazilian, 19, was on the bench for the Reds' EFL Cup win against Leicester at Anfield on Wednesday evening.

Pitaluga joined Liverpool from Fluminense in October 2020 and has done well when called upon, conceding just once against Bolton and Port Vale in the EFL Trophy.

He's also been a regular for the club's U23 side, making eight Premier League 2 appearances.

Pitaluga is unlikely to play anytime soon with Adrian, Caoimhin Kelleher and Alisson above him in the pecking order, but he's impressed the latter with his efforts in training.

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"Marcelo is really talented," Alisson told Liverpool's website. "I saw him a few times back in Brazil, but I could know more about him here as a goalie and as a person as well.

"He is a really special boy, he is really excited about having the opportunity to play for Liverpool. Now he has settled in and is doing really well in training.

"He is a boy who trains really hard and is really dedicated for what he is doing. And someone who likes to learn as well.

"So it is really good to work together with him, not only for being Brazilian but for being a really good talent and such a good person."

Liverpool are currently second in the Premier League, six points behind champions and leaders Manchester City with a game in hand.

Pep Guardiola's side extended their lead at the top of the table with a stunning 6-3 victory against Leicester at the Etihad on Boxing Day.

And, with three players expected to miss a month due to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool could find themselves out of the title race if results don't go their way.

Alisson appreciates this and has urged his team-mates not to blink during the busiest time of the year.

"This period of the season is a really intense period and it's really a mentality game," added the goalkeeper.

"It's really tough, physically speaking, but I believe that we are doing really well with these situations, having the results that we need.

"But we still have a lot of things to improve, to keep improving through the season but I'm happy about what we did so far."

Liverpool have seven games coming up in all competitions within the next month, making their Premier League challenge all the more difficult.

Alisson continued: "Can you keep consistency? Can you keep winning these short games that we have, in terms of intervals between each other?

"So it's really important for us if you look at the table, but we cannot change our focus, we just need to be focused on the next challenge, playing game by game.

"This is what we'll do and think on the next challenge."