Alisson Becker showed why he’s one of the best in the world in his position despite a shocking first half for Liverpool against Brighton.
The Reds couldn’t have got off to a worse start on Saturday afternoon. Behind within 5 minutes, they then conceded a second with 20 minutes not yet on the clock.
It’s a familiar pattern for Liverpool this season and they have huge work to do in the second half. But were in not for their goalkeeper, it could easily have been much, much worse.
Alisson made a point blank save from a Danny Welbeck header with the score still at 1-0. Then, he flung out his leg to make a quite unbelievable stop with his right boot.
Nothing the ‘keeper could do about either Leandro Trossard goal as he made sure Liverpool hung in the game. A Roberto Firmino goal before half-time made sure those saves could still be vitally important.
Alisson keeps Liverpool in it against Brighton
There is little doubt by now that Alisson is one of the very best goalkeepers in world football. But as his teammates continue to flounder around him, he is now having to show it game after game.
Last time out in the Premier League, he was labelled ‘wonderful’ by Everton counterpart Jordan Pickford via BT Sport. But if the saves during the Merseyside Derby were good, his two this afternoon at Anfield were arguably even better.
The second in particular is a save any goalkeeper throughout history would have been proud of.
It looked for all the world as though Liverpool were about to go 2-0 behind as Trossard bore down on goal. Out of nowhere though, the big Brazilian was suddenly in his face.
Reading that the Belgian attacker was going back across him, Alisson instinctively threw out a right boot.
Coming off the back of another excellent save just moments before, Liverpool’s No.1 kept the score respectable. Had either gone in, there would surely have been no way back for the Reds.
As it stands, they’ve still got a task on their hands. But at 2-1 down, there’ll still be hope that they can show something more in the second 45. If they can, those saves may take on a whole new significance.
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