Alisson is the reason Liverpool are top of the Premier League table, according to BBC pundit Garth Crooks.
The Brazilian has been brilliant since joining Liverpool from Roma last summer, keeping 15 clean sheets to help the Reds open up a one point lead at the top of the table with 11 games remaining.
How important has Alisson been for Liverpool? Five key things to know…
- Alisson signed for Liverpool last summer from Roma and he immediately replaced Loris Karius as the club’s number one goalkeeper.
- The Brazilian has kept 15 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, three more than any other goalkeeper.
- His 15th came in a goalless draw against Manchester United on Sunday, sending Liverpool a point clear at the top of the table.
- Crooks believes the Brazilian is the key reason why Liverpool are top of the Premier League.
- Alisson is now nine clean sheets away from matching the Premier League record for most kept in a single season.
Alisson’s 15th clean sheet came in Liverpool’s goalless draw against Manchester United on Sunday and it was by no means an easy task. The goalkeeper had to be on hand to make a fantastic last-ditch save to deny Jesse Lingard.
And, fortunately for Liverpool, when Alisson was beaten by his own player in Joel Matip, the effort was ruled out for offside.
Though Liverpool ultimately missed out on the chance to move three points clear at the top, Crooks believes they owe a lot to their goalkeeper.
“The save by Alisson as Jesse Lingard tried to take the ball around the Brazil international was a game-changer at Old Trafford,” Crooks wrote in his BBC column.
“Quite apart from anything else, I thought it was a certain goal. Would I have done exactly as Lingard did? Absolutely.
“Alisson was so alert to what the forward was about to do – and took the ball so cleanly – that there was no hint of a possible penalty.
“Liverpool went top of the table on Sunday all because of Alisson’s moment of sheer brilliance.”
Liverpool’s next game in their quest for a first league title since 1990 is a home tie against Watford on Wednesday before Sunday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.
The Reds still have to face Tottenham and Chelsea before the season is up, which will put their title credentials to the test.
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Could Alisson reach the 20 clean sheets mark?
In the past, Liverpool have seen title challenges crumble as a result of their poor defensive record.
Though the 2013/14 failure will be remembered largely for Steven Gerrard’s slip, the Reds’ defence played a big part. Brendan Rodgers’ side conceded 50 goals across the season, including three against Crystal Palace in what has since been dubbed ‘Crystanbul’.
This season, Liverpool have conceded just 15 goals, only letting in more than two goals in a single game twice. Alisson’s 15 clean sheets sees him sit nine behind the Premier League record for most clean sheets in a single season.
That record is currently held by Petr Cech who achieved 24 in the 2004/05 season en route to the Premier League title.
Alisson is the first Liverpool goalkeeper to keep 15 clean sheets in a single Premier League season since Pepe Reina in 2009/10.
Reina: 35 games, 17 clean sheets
One massive intervention today.
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— Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 24, 2019
With 11 games remaining to record 10 clean sheets, that may be a stretch too far to break Cech’s current record, but the Brazilian could yet reach the 20 clean sheet mark, which hasn’t been achieved for a decade now.
The last man to reach that milestone was Edwin van der Sar in the 2008/09 season with 21, while Pepe Reina achieved the feat in 2005/06 with 20.
The Brazilian has a good chance as he has saved an incredible 78.26% of shots on target faced in the Premier League this term, making 56 saves.
Of the teams Liverpool still have to play, Alisson kept seven clean sheets in the corresponding fixtures earlier this season, which should stand him in good stead.
The post Liverpool “game-changer” Alisson has a chance to match Cech & Van der Sar appeared first on Squawka News.
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