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.”
Paris St-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel has criticised Neymar over the Brazilian's altercation with a fan after the club's French Cup final defeat by Rennes. PSG, who had been 2-0 up, drew 2-2, before losing 6-5 on penalties.
More transfer news and football gossip: PSG hatch plan to sign De Gea for free, Chelsea's grand gesture for Hudson-Odoi, Crystal Palace name price for Manchester United target
PSG hatch plan to sign De Gea for free, Chelsea's grand
sportsalert.org/2019/05/19/psg-hatch-plan-to-sign-de-gea-for-free-chelseas-grand-gesture-for-hudson-odoi-crystal-palace-name-price-for-manchester-united-target/
PSG hatch plan to sign De Gea for free, Chelsea's grand gesture for Hudson-Odoi, Crystal Palace name price for Manchester United target; Lack of England-qualified Premier League starters must change, says Southgate; Roberto Martinez explains what makes departing Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany an 'incredible footballer'
PSG hatch plan to sign De Gea for free, Chelsea's grand
England manager Phil Neville has said that Houghton could have all the time off that she needs. The Women's World Cup runs from June 5 to July 6, later this year in France. ENGLAND: Steph says she could miss the World Cup (Pic: INSTAGRAM) He told The Sun: "What I have said to Steph is that she is in charge of what she wants to do.
Steph Houghton thanks supporters over Stephen Darby's
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer believes United are capable of causing Barcelona problems in the quarter-final second leg. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reacts to Man Utd v Barcelona 10 April | Manchester United
Stopping Messi not mission impossible for Manchester United
Barcelona vs Liverpool team news: Latest updates as Roberto Firmino provides Jurgen Klopp with welcome boost Wednesday, 1 May 2019 ( 3 weeks ago ) Liverpool will take on Barcelona on Wednesday in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.
Barcelona vs Liverpool team news: Latest updates as Roberto
maconsultancycardiff.com/business/barcelona-vs-liverpool-team-news-latest-updates-as-roberto-firmino-provides-jurgen-klopp-with-welcome-boost/
Barcelona vs Liverpool team news: Latest updates as Roberto Firmino provides Jurgen Klopp with welcome boost. Barcelona vs Liverpool team news: Latest updates as Roberto Firmino provides Jurgen Klopp with welcome boost
Barcelona vs Liverpool team news: Latest updates as Roberto
Swansea City 1-1 Derby County: Frank Lampard's side held as
Leicester City defender Harry Maguire suffered a hamstring injury in the closing stages of England's 1-0 win over Holland, it has been revealed. Maguire came on for the injured Joe Gomez after
So, there you have it, five reasons why Spurs can win the UEFA Champions League in 2019. Liverpool, it must be said, is an absolutely formidable team and will make it as difficult as possible for the Londoners to triumph.
Will VAR be used in Champions League final between Tottenham
Watford striker Andre Gray claims football authorities don't
Manchester United have reportedly emerged as "favourites" to sign Borussia Dortmund starlet Jadon Sancho if the player returns to England. Sancho departed Manchester City's youth team to join BVB
Who is Jadon Sancho? Borussia Dortmund winger revealed
Hero Son's army of fans will have to wake up at 4am on Sunday to watch Tottenham vs Liverpool in the Champions League final, which is LIVE on talkSPORT Heung-min Son is set to draw huge TV figures in the Far East as Tottenham take on Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday.
Heung-min Son set to draw huge TV figures in Far East
fussboll.com/2019/05/28/heung-min-son-set-to-draw-huge-tv-figures-in-far-east/
Heung-min Son is set to draw huge TV figures in the Far East as Tottenham take on Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday.. Son is regarded as the biggest sporting star in his homeland South Korea and the rest of the Far East.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Heung-min Son set to draw huge TV
Tottenham Hotspur have released a statement this afternoon to confirm they have given three season ticket holders indefinite bans after their Champions League final tickets were found to be listed on Tottenham have banned three season ticket holders after their Champions League season tickets were found on a reselling ticket website.
Champions League Final Tickets (Where to Buy 2019) - Madrid
Most of the players that have helped manager Jurgen Klopp transform Liverpool and restore their status as a big side have come from smaller clubs in England. Sadio Mane, Virgil Van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and a number of them were all recruited from English clubs and they can all be linked to the club' success one way
Robertson on Salah's Chelsea strike: "That's the way to shut
Andy Halliday took umbrage with Brown's antics but the midfielder offered a mocking answer when questioned about what exactly had taken place; "he came up to congratulate me," said Brown dryly.
Scott Brown at centre of chaos as Celtic snatch late winner
Chelsea transfer news: Christian Pulisic odds-on to seal January move to Stamford Bridge • CHELSEA are odds-on favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund ace Christian Pulisic after a flurry of bets on the deal going through next month.
Gonzalo Higuaín #9 News, Stats, Photos - Chelsea - Football
No comments:
Post a Comment