The Nightmare of Trying to Look Like Alisson Becker
I swear, trying to pick the right size for a Liverpool goalkeeper kit is the biggest gamble you can take in the world of football fashion. Forget Bitcoin, forget meme stocks—ordering an LFC keeper jersey is where the real stress lives. You look at the official size chart on the Nike site, and it’s about as useful as a screen door on a submarine. It tells you nothing about the actual fit, especially because keeper kits are cut differently than the standard replica jerseys. They’re designed to be worn over padding, or sometimes they’re designed for speed, depending on the season, and you never know which version you’re getting.
I went through a total catastrophe trying to sort this out for years. This isn’t just some abstract guide I pulled off a forum; this is documented trauma that cost me serious money. Why did I put in the effort to figure this out? Because of the 20/21 kit—that hideous grey and black splatter one. I saw it, loved it, and decided I had to have it. I usually wear an American Large in everything, maybe an XL if I want it baggy. So I figured, “Go for XL, just to be safe.”
That was the biggest mistake of my life.
When the box arrived, I ripped it open and tried it on. I didn’t look like Alisson; I looked like a child wearing his dad’s pajamas. I was absolutely swimming in it. The sleeves draped down past my knuckles, and the chest width was so massive that I could have smuggled a small dog under there. It was clearly a true ‘Stadium Fit’ XL, meaning they added about four extra inches in every direction for some reason. I tried washing it hot, drying it hot—the whole nine yards—but it barely shrank. I essentially wasted $100 because the return shipping to get the size exchange wasn’t worth the hassle from where I live.
The Deep Dive: How I Developed the Secret Sizing Database
After that debacle, I swore I would never buy a kit again without knowing the exact measurements. I decided I needed hard data, not just vague advice like “size down” or “it fits true to size.”
I immediately started contacting every single friend I knew who had ordered a Liverpool kit from the past five seasons. I messaged guys on Reddit and specific LFC fan groups, promising them immortality if they just sent me two simple numbers. I gathered up sizes from the 18/19 kits, the 19/20 ones (which were New Balance and fit totally differently), and the newer Nike releases.
I literally sat there for a whole weekend and cataloged every single measurement I received. I collected the length from the nape of the neck to the hem, and the crucial P2P (pit-to-pit) width. I input the data into a spreadsheet, comparing the official tag size (S, M, L) against the actual physical dimensions. I ignored the length for a bit because everyone is different height-wise. I focused intensely on that P2P number because that determines if you look good or look like a tent.
What I quickly discovered was that for Nike LFC kits, there are generally two fits running simultaneously, and the official store doesn’t tell you which one you’re buying:
- The “Fan/Stadium” Fit: Cut for comfort. These are the ones where an XL is truly enormous. These are usually 24-25 inches P2P for a Large.
- The “Standard/Performance” Fit: Cut more tightly, closer to what the pros wear underneath their bulky keeper tops. These are usually 21-22 inches P2P for a Large.
The key was figuring out how to tell which batch the current keeper kit belongs to.
The Simple Sizing Guide I Ended Up With
After reviewing all the numbers, I finally formulated a rule of thumb. This rule has saved me three times now, and every kit I’ve ordered since my 20/21 disaster has been a perfect fit. I even successfully sized a friend who is broader than me, just based on these metrics. You absolutely must measure a shirt you already own and love the fit of, specifically the pit-to-pit measurement.
This is the process I now follow religiously:
First, grab your favorite t-shirt—not a stretchy gym shirt, just a standard cotton tee—and lay it flat. Measure the width across the chest, right under the armpits. Note that number down. Say it’s 22 inches. That’s your target P2P.
Rule 1: Always Find the Listed P2P Measurement (If Possible)
If you are buying from a third-party seller (which I often do now because they list measurements), check their size chart. If your preferred P2P is 22 inches, you need to be aiming for a shirt that lists P2P between 21.5 and 22.5 inches. Don’t trust the tag size (L, XL), trust the P2P number.
Rule 2: Sizing Down is the Safe Bet for Modern Kits
If you are ordering directly from a major retailer or the official LFC store and they only give you vague small/medium/large options, you must size down one level from your normal t-shirt size if you fall between sizes or if you prefer a slimmer look. My normal comfortable Large shirt is 22 inches P2P. For LFC keeper kits, the Medium usually hits closer to 21-22 inches, while the Large jumps straight to 23-24 inches. The only reason to get your “normal” size is if you actually plan to wear pads underneath it or if you are extremely tall.
- I am 5’11” and about 185 lbs. I always wear a Large T-shirt.
- For a comfortable, casual-fitting LFC Keeper Kit, I now order a Medium.
- For a slightly tight, performance-focused fit, I stick with the Medium.
Rule 3: Ignore the New Balance Era
If you happen to be looking at an older New Balance keeper kit (2018-2020), throw all these rules out. New Balance ran notoriously tight, particularly in the shoulders. I had to size up to an XL just to get a comfortable Large fit during those years. Stick to the modern Nike sizing logic.
So there you have it. You shouldn’t have to suffer through the oversized jersey shame I went through. By measuring first and then trusting the P2P number over the letter on the tag, you bypass the whole guesswork entirely. It’s a lot of hassle just to buy a shirt, I know, but trust me, getting that perfect fit and not looking like you borrowed a sheet from the bed is absolutely worth the prep work.
