Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson has suggested that the form and ability of compatriot and Manchester City stopper Ederson pushes him to be better on the field.
Since making his Premier League debut in August 2018, the Brazilian has prevented more league goals than any other goalkeeper according to Opta's goals prevented metric.
He has also kept 89 clean sheets, with only Ederson (97) managing more in the same period.
"Ederson is a fantastic guy and in the national team, we have a really good relationship," said the 31-year-old, during an interview for BBC's Football Focus.
"I really like his composure… When I look at him, I can see that this is the way that I have to play. I have to be cooler with the ball at my feet even when I am under pressure.
"I think in a way we push each other because I see him doing well, and I know I have to do better.
"It's healthy competition, we push each other, and it's the best for the national team."
Since joining Liverpool from Roma in 2018, Alisson has won the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup, Champions League and Club World Cup, along with the 2019 Copa America with Brazil.
But he insists that while he has enjoyed the success he has achieved, they are not his main source of drive.
"My main motivation is not the prizes… my motivations come from inside," he added.
"My faith in God makes me work hard and better. I really believe that everything I do is a way to praise God.
"Winning trophies and awards makes me happy, but my motivation comes from inside, my family."
Alisson and Liverpool are aiming to emulate some of the success achieved by former manager Jurgen Klopp, who signed him, under the leadership of his replacement Arne Slot.
Slot has made a bright start to life at Anfield, winning six matches out of seven in all competitions, while they currently occupy second in the Premier League, one point behind leaders Man City.
The new ideas brought in by the Dutchman have been warmly embraced by the Liverpool players, according to Alisson.
"We were great before, but Arne is bringing us a new energy and knowledge," he said.
"He is a really smart manager, and he is helping us a lot. You can see from how we are playing now.
"We are committed to the plan and can see it is a good plan. We still have a lot to improve, but we are [going] in the right direction. We have a big gap to reach for our best, but we are doing well so far."
Following the departure of senior players such as Jordan Henderson and James Milner in recent seasons, Alisson is now one of the oldest and most experienced players within the Liverpool squad.
That has seen him take on more leadership responsibilities alongside other established players, having rejected a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer.
"I am committed to this club 100% and that involves being part of the leadership group," he said.
"We have a lot of young players coming in, new players coming in, old players going out, there is a completely new staff.
"The challenge for us was to keep the good things, pass these onto the staff and the players coming in, and embrace the good stuff that the new staff are bringing.
"It was a big challenge for this leadership group and I really believe we are doing quite well. We are sharing the responsibility and telling young players they need to step up as well.
"This club is special and the people who work here are special."
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Fulham: Jimenez penalty gives Cottagers win
Fulham brought Nottingham Forest's unbeaten start to the Premier League season to a halt with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at the City Ground.
There was very little to choose between two sides separated by a mere point at kick-off, but Raul Jimenez’s second-half penalty, awarded for Murillo's foul on Andreas Pereira, proved decisive.
Forest had started brightly with Taiwo Awoniyi missing an early chance, while Chris Wood saw a potential opener disallowed for offside following a VAR review in the 25th minute.
However, Nuno Espirito Santo's team failed to find a spark without the suspended Morgan Gibbs-White as Fulham's own impressive start to 2024/25 continued.
The result leaves Forest ninth in the table with nine points, with Fulham leapfrogging their hosts to move into sixth on 11 points.
Data Debrief: Fulham increase their unbeaten streak while Jimenez remains in the goals
Fulham are undefeated in their last 5 games in the Premier League, their last joint longest unbeaten streak was from 13th December 2020 to 13th January 2021.
Jimenez has now scored three goals in his last three games, and continues his good record against Forest, with three goals in two matches against them.
Guardiola rues finishing as Man City frustrated at St James' Park
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola rued his side's finishing after their 1-1 draw with Newcastle United on Saturday.
City had taken the lead in the first half through Josko Gvardiol, after neat play from Jack Grealish helped create the goal, but were pegged back when Anthony Gordon won and converted a penalty after the break.
Despite having 16 shots, and six efforts on target, City only registered 0.87 expected goals (xG), suggesting those chances were not of a high quality.
Erling Haaland failed to extend his scoring run, while Nick Pope made a fine save from Bernardo Silva late on, as City saw a run of 14 successive Premier League matches in which they had scored multiple goals come to an end.
A frustrated Guardiola told TNT Sports: "We made bad decisions at the last minute to make it 2-0. It is always difficult here with their physicality and they defend so deep.
"We had chances but Pope was brilliant so we take the point.
"When we scored we played better. We make a mistake and after they play better. But then we take the game again and had chances to win it.
"They had moments in first ten minutes and after their goal, but in general we played really good."
Guardiola was full of praise for City's midfielders, with Rodri's season-ending knee injury leaving him searching for solutions.
"Mateo [Kovacic] was brilliant, Rico [Lewis] too. Bernardo played there. Really good," Guardiola said.
City are back in European action on Tuesday, as they travel to Slovakia to face Slovan Bratislava.
Howe thrilled with Gordon's leading role in Man City draw
Eddie Howe hailed Anthony Gordon's performance after he proved decisive in Newcastle United's 1-1 draw with Manchester City.
Newcastle fell behind in the first half when Josko Gvardiol finished off a slick City move, but the home side hit back, with Gordon winning and converting a penalty to earn a point.
With Alexander Isak injured, Gordon, who has won seven penalties in the Premier League since the beginning of last season, at least four more than any other player during that time, led the line for Newcastle.
The England international performed brilliantly, creating two chances while also attempting four crosses as he dragged wide to stretch City's defence.
Speaking to TNT Sports, Howe said of Gordon: "I've said he is capable of doing the role.
"The highlight for me today was his energy and his running. He led the line really well and really pleased that he got his goal. Well deserved."
Gordon confirmed pre-match that he is close to signing a new deal to remain at Newcastle, despite speculation linking him with a move away.
After the match, he told TNT: "The way I play striker, you'll see a lot of pressing, just because I'm not an out-and-out number nine. I have to play it my way."
Newcastle have 11 points from their opening six games, and Gordon is encouraged by the tally given some of the performances this season.
He said: "It's a really good place to be considering we've been nowhere near what we can do. We've got so much more to give."
Howe too was delighted to see such a vast improvement from his side in comparison to their dismal performance away at Fulham last week, which saw them lose 3-1.
"We are happy, especially after last week," he told BBC Sport.
“That was a good display, that was us playing our way, brave. It was two teams going right at each other for probably 70 minutes.
"We got into really good crossing areas and I was really pleased with how we were off the ball and how we attacked the game. I can't ask for much more than that, the lads gave everything."
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