Liverpool icon Kenny Dalglish has suggested that Alisson Becker is ‘equally important’ to Jurgen Klopp as Mohamed Salah.
Salah is now the Reds top scorer in Premier League history – overtaking Robbie Fowler on 129 goals last Sunday. And although Dalglish hailed the achievement whilst speaking to liverpoolfc.com, he was keen to point out the qualities of Mo’s teammate, too.
“Every achievement by any individual should never be undermined or overlooked. It’s a fantastic achievement and he’s done it in a short space of time, shorter than maybe Robbie did,” said King Kenny.
“The most important thing is the individual awards are brilliant but you can’t beat the team awards. Within the success of the team, there’s always individuals [who] make contributions. A goal at one end, it’s equally as important that Alisson saves another one at the other end, or the defender kicks one off the line.
“So, everybody’s got their part to play. Without everybody performing for the team, there’s no way that you’re going to be successful just by scoring goals. But you also have to be successful in not letting in goals. But it’s fantastic for Mo, [he’s] been a great servant to the club and long may it continue.”
Alisson and Salah step up for Liverpool
This is a point worth making by Kenny. Yes, Mo should be given all the plaudits in the world for what he has achieved at Liverpool. This last week has been another reminder of how lucky we are to have him still at the club. But the contribution of someone like Alisson should also be highlighted.
In a season where Liverpool have been poor, these two have perhaps been the best two players. Alisson certainly has kept his standards high while others around him have dropped theirs.
Without his input, it feels impossible that the Reds would still be in top-four contention. There have been games where he’s simply kept the score down, but there have been others where Alisson has actively won Liverpool points.
And here’s the thing – he’s been doing that ever since he arrived at the club five years ago.
Salah arrived a year earlier, and has been a relentless source of goals ever since. Even this season, where his level has dipped for considerable time, he’s still managed to hit 22 goals and claim 11 assists. Imagine how many of each metric the 30-year-old would have if he’d been firing all season long!
Hopefully as Liverpool turn into the home stretch in the Premier League, these two players’ importance will go in opposite directions. Alisson will always be key to Klopp, but it would be nice to see him not needed quite so much. As for Mo, you feel he’s got the bit between his teeth right now. He’s due a little purple patch in-front of goal. Now would be a great time to get it.