Twelve months is a long time in football.
Rewind to April 2018 and Liverpool had Loris Karius in goal after Simon Mignolet had struggled in the first half of the season. We all know how that worked out…
4
Loris Karius made two howlers in the 2017/2018 Champions League final as Liverpool were beaten by Real Madrid
Jurgen Klopp moved to rectify his big problem between the sticks last summer by bringing in Alisson Becker from Roma in a €75m (£66.9m) deal.
Eyebrows were raised at the time at the size of the fee – a world record amount for a ‘keeper – but few would argue now that it hasn’t been money well spent.
Ably protected by Virgil van Dijk and co., Alisson has been outstanding for Liverpool in his debut season in English football.
The Brazilian has been ever-present in a title-chasing side that has conceded only 20 goals in 36 Premier League games this season, while he’s also been crucial to their run to the Champions League semi-finals.
4
Alisson Becker has been superb for Liverpool domestically and in Europe this season
And this weekend could well see the 26-year-old from Sao Paulo break a Liverpool record.
Should Newcastle fail to score against the Reds at St James’ Park on Saturday, Alisson will claim his 21st clean sheet of the Premier League season.
That would see him surpass Pepe Reina, who had 20 shutouts in both the 2005/06 and 2008/09 campaigns.
He’ll also have the final game of the season, at home to Wolves, to claim the record if he fails to do so against Newcastle.
Alisson's stats for Liverpool in 2018/19
Premier League
Appearances: 36
Goals conceded: 20
Clean sheets: 20
Saves: 70
Champions League
Appearances: 11
Goals conceded: 12
Clean sheets: 4
Saves: 33
“I’m fancying him to do it,” Reina, now with AC Milan, told Liverpoolfc.com.
“Although, he’s played more games than me because I think I played 32 or 33 games to complete 20 clean sheets and he’s played 36!
“But still it’s a great achievement. I’m looking forward to [him breaking the record]. If it’s Saturday against Newcastle, good.
“If it’s the last game of the league, even better if that means Liverpool is the Premier League champion.
“It’s the goalkeepers’ union as we say. We have mutual respect for each other and I admire him because he’s not just a goalkeeper, but a great goalkeeper in a club that I love.”
4
Pepe Reina made 394 appearances for the Merseyside club from 2005 to 2013
While claiming a club record would be a proud moment for Alisson, he’ll have his eyes on an ever bigger prize – the Premier League title.
Liverpool are battling Manchester City to take the crown, sitting a point behind Pep Guardiola’s side with two games left to play.
They are also in the hunt for the Champions League trophy, although face a huge task to qualify for the final after a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou in the first leg of their last four showdown this week.
4
Fixtures left to play
Liverpool – Newcastle (away, Saturday May 4), Wolves (home, Sunday May 12)
Manchester City – Leicester (home, Monday May 6), Brighton (away, Sunday May 12)
And it’s not just former Liverpool goalkeepers singing Alisson’s praise, with current no.2 Mignolet hailing him as the best in the business.
“As a goalkeeper, you learn from the guys you work with,” he told the Mail. “He is Brazil n.o 1 ahead of [Man City goalkeeper] Ederson. The main difference between the two is that Ali is probably better with his hands. He’s the most complete goalkeeper I’ve seen in my career. He is so calm.”
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is an "easy target" and the players "have to do better", says former Old Trafford striker Wayne Rooney. Mourinho has come under pressure after United made
Former Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho backs Reds to
Youri Tielemans on his Leicester City partnership with James Maddison City's talks with Monaco over a permanent move, be shrewd signing for Leicester City and Brendan Rodgers The Crystal
NewsNow: Youri Tielemans news | Breaking News 24/7
Barcelona 3-0 Manchester United: Philippe Coutinho, Blaugrana worries, and what else we learnt The Spanish giants might just be 'walking to victory' as Ernesto Valverde has the last laugh over his
Philippe Coutinho, Blaugrana worries, and what else we learnt
fussboll.com/2019/04/17/philippe-coutinho-blaugrana-worries-and-what-else-we-learnt/
Barcelona progressed to their first Champions League semi-final since 2016 thanks to a 3-0 win over Manchester United. The result left the Premier League side nursing a 4-0 defeat on aggregate as Lionel Messi struck twice and former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho finished them off in style.
Philippe Coutinho And Barcelona Might Yet Have A Happy Ending
News list for england under-21 stars including phil foden and reiss nelson put through their paces / England Under-21s are in action in a friendly against Germany on Tuesday night as they continue their preparations for this summer's European Championship.
Callum Hudson-Odoi earns his first England Under 21s call-up
James Forrest hailed the leadership skills of Scott Brown after the Celtic captain got under the skins of Rangers players throughout his side's fractious 2-1 derby victory at Parkhead SHARE Sign in to upvote posts
Scott Brown (footballer, born June 1985) - Wikipedia
Leeds vs Aston Villa: 'I would have done the same as Pontus Jansson,' says former Elland Road star Vinnie Jones by: 161385360554578 — Talk Sport 29 Apr Vinnie Jones has told talkSPORT he would have tried to stop Aston Villa from scoring their equaliser during Sunday's fiery 1-1 draw at Elland Road.
Leeds vs Aston Villa: Marcelo Bielsa plays down decision to
Leeds United 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Harrison gives Bielsa's men huge promotion boost point gap to the chasing pack thanks to a second-half goal from Jack Harrison. Jack Harrison's
Leeds United 1 Sheffield Wednesday 0: Harrison gives Bielsa's
Championship table: How standings in the second-tier could change after Gameweek 40 Friday, 5 April 2019 If you thought the battles around the Premier League were tight then you obviously haven't looked at the Championship table lately.
Championship table: How standings in the second | SportSpyder
Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been named Premier League Player of the Season. The Dutchman, who was also voted PFA Player of the Year by his fellow professionals, pipped Manchester City
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk nominates Raheem Sterling for
Manchester City DEMAND apology from Bayern Munich president
Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen is NOT a priority signing for Real Madrid this summer, talkSPORT has been told. The Danish playmaker dropped a bombshell on Wednesday by revealing he wants to leave White Hart Lane this summer to 'try something new'.
Christian Eriksen to Real Madrid? There is a 'very strong
gistjunction.com/2019/03/21/christian-eriksen-to-real-madrid-there-is-a-very-strong-possibility-tottenham-star-will-move-this-summer/
There is a 'very strong possibility' Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen will join Real Madrid this summer, talkSPORT has been told. The Danish playmaker is a key man for Spurs and one of the Premier League's top stars, but he has just 18 months remaining on his contract in north London.
Real Madrid keen on signing Tottenham Hotspur star this
Everton defender Kurt Zouma has said he's "very happy" at Goodison Park, but he's unsure whether he'll play his football for parent club Chelsea or the Toffees next season. Zouma has been a
Kurt Zouma Tipped for Return to Chelsea First Team Next
No comments:
Post a Comment