Newcastle’s Nick Pope says Liverpool have a player who’s been ‘top drawer’ this season

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Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope has claimed that he loves to watch Liverpool’s Alisson Becker.

Pope and Alisson have been two of the best ‘keepers in the Premier League this season, despite their clubs differing fortunes. While Newcastle have overperformed expectations, Liverpool have fallen short of theirs.

But speaking to Ben Foster’s Fozcast podcast, Pope said that the Reds’ poor season was in no way down to Alisson.

“If we’re talking Premier League, Alisson who we mentioned earlier… Love watching him play,” said the 31-year-old. “Obviously on the whole Liverpool have got less points than they normally get, but his level of goalkeeping has been top, top drawer. I’d have to put him up there.

“Anyone keeping Ederson out of the Brazil team has got to be up there. I love watching the way he plays.”

Alisson gets Pope stamp of approval

As goalkeepers, Pope and Alisson feels quite different. While the England man is a very traditional shot-stopping goalie, Liverpool’s No.1 is a thoroughly modern custodian.

Whatever trait you can think of that should exist in a goalkeeper, Alisson excels in it. It’s fitting that he’s currently the only ‘keeper to score a winning goal in Premier League history, because he’s a truly unique player.

In the tribal world of football rivalry, opposing fans perhaps don’t give the Brazil international his due. But to hear Pope – and Foster – speak, it’s clear just how highly regarded Ali is by his fellow professionals.

And how about that claim that the 30-year-old has been brilliant in spite of Liverpool’s poor campaign? Well, he well and truly has.

As per stats from Fotmob, Alisson has saved the Reds a whopping 8.8 goals this season. That’s the most in the league and a whole goal more than his closest rival – Fulham’s Bernd Leno.

Without Ali between the sticks, who knows where Liverpool would be right now. Thankfully, they do have the big Brazilian and as a result they’re still just about clinging to a faint hope of Champions League football next season. The absolute best in the business, no denying it.