Alisson Becker became the world's most expensive goalkeeper last summer just as Hugo Lloris was celebrating the peak of his professional career.
While new signing Becker posed for pictures at Liverpool's Melwood training ground, Lloris was still in the after-glow of the World Cup, five days on from France's 4-2 victory over Croatia.
Yet neither enjoyed the moment for long. Less than three weeks after Liverpool paid Roma 75 million euros ($83 million) for Alisson, Chelsea added another five million on top to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga.
And Lloris has spoken since about the "emptiness" he felt as soon as the dust had settled from Moscow. "I remember I needed one day to stay in bed and just stop," said Lloris.
"I had to disconnect a little bit." Or Alisson will have capped a remarkable debut season by winning the same trophy Liverpool surrendered to Real Madrid one year ago, largely due to the mistakes of his predecessor, Loris Karius.
- 'Accident serves as a lesson' -
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"You just have to try to be ready to be at your best in the most important moments."
- Best defence in the league -
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