Brazilian media and fans rate Alisson and answer if he should have saved Japan’s goal at the World Cup

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Alisson Becker and Brazil are through to the last-16 of the World Cup after a dramatic 2-1 win over Japan.

The Liverpool goalkeeper looked like he could have been heading for a surprise exit until Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli popped up to break Japanese hearts in the 94th minute.

All in all it was a quiet afternoon for Alisson in Houston, with Japan dropping away after taking a first-half lead. There were question marks over whether he could have saved Kaishu Sano’s long-range strike, but according to Brazilian media, the Liverpool veteran was not to blame and largely did fine otherwise.

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Alisson not to blame for long-range Japan goal

On first viewing, it had looked as though Alisson could have potentially got down a little quicker to divert Sano’s low effort around the post.

But the Mainz midfielder struck his shot perfectly, with more fault being put on the likes of Casemiro, who let Sano waltz past him into a shooting position.

Brazilian outlet Globo agreed, handing Alisson a six out of 10, definitively stating that the 33-year-old ‘wasn’t at fault for the Japanese goal,’ given its proximity to the corner of the net.

Otherwise Alisson is said to have ‘participated more in the game with his feet than in defending,’ and is praised for the way he held onto the ball, drawing out the Japanese press.

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The Globo readers were less forgiving of Alisson for a slightly below-par display, with fans handing him a 5.5 rating at the time of writing.

Meanwhile, ESPN Brazil also absolved the Liverpool man of any blame for Sano’s goal, joining Globo in handing him a six out of 10.

Elsewhere it’s claimed that Alisson ‘wasn’t tested much,’ and therefore delivered an ‘average’ performance.

With Brazil through to the last-16, where they’ll now face Ivory Coast or Norway, Liverpool’s No. 1 may need to prepare for a busier night against either Erling Haaland and co, or an Ivorian attack led by former Reds target Yan Diomande.