How Alisson helped keep Liverpool's Champions League dream alive yet again
The Brazilian made several vital interventions to preserve Liverpool's clean sheet against a highly skilled Salzburg side who gave everything they had.
While few would have predicted a clean sheet against a prolific Red Bull Salzburg side – especially away from home – Jürgen Klopp’s side went and achieved just that.
In Austria, Liverpool replicated their unerring ability to overcome the opposition in a must-win Champions League group stage tie, mirroring the Napoli showdown of last season by refusing to concede.
While Liverpool fans were spared the last-minute, heart-stopping save of last year’s group stage finale, Alisson Becker was nonetheless instrumental in paving the way to yet another tensely thrilling progression to the last-16. This clean sheet represents the first in an away Champions League match in 11 matches, after conceding 18 in the previous ten.
Clean sheets have been a rarity in all competitions this season, but the Reds have now recorded them back-to-back after the weekend's 0-3 win over Bournemouth. Helped ably by the imperious Virgil van Dijk on Tuesday night, Alisson was able to disarm Salzburg’s firepower and prevent them from getting a foothold in the game early on.
While some were more testing than others, all were vital, and although not necessarily spectacular by nature, his ability to be in exactly the right position at all times is ultimately what makes him the world class goalkeeper he is.
By denying a menacing RB Salzburg side who had scored a ridiculous 87 goals in 24 games prior to this match, the Brazilian provided the canvas upon which Liverpool daubed an expressive win.
· 3rd minute: Mwepu
· 7th minute: Hwang
· 7th minute: Minamino
· 21st minute: Minamino
· 24th minute: Haaland
· 41st minute: Mwepu
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