‘Lifesaver’ Alisson lifts Liverpool into last 16
Brazilian goalkeeper preserves victory with last-gasp heroics against Napoli
LIVERPOOL — Goalkeeper Alisson Becker was called a “lifesaver” by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for a last-gasp save that preserved a 1-0 win over Napoli at Anfield on Tuesday, sending the Reds to the last 16 of the Champions League.
Mo Salah’s stunning solo effort put the host in front 11 minutes before halftime, but Liverpool was nearly made to pay for its profligacy in botching a series of secondhalf chances.
Brazilian Alisson had barely been tested until he spread himself brilliantly to deny Arkadiusz Milik a dramatic stoppage-time equalizer — a stop that goes a long way to justifying the then world-record $85 million fee for a goalkeeper Liverpool paid Roma in July.
“If I knew Alisson was this good I would have paid double,” joked Klopp.
“The goal Mo scored, what a goal! And the save Ali made was unbelievable. He was of course a lifesaver tonight.”
Despite losing all three of its away games in Group C, three home wins at fortress Anfield were enough to see Liverpool through to the knockout stage in second place, pipping the Italians on goals scored. Paris Saint-Germain, which won 4-1 at Red Star Belgrade, secured top spot.
“I’m still full of adrenaline, I could feel it in bubbles,” added
Klopp.
“This game was just amazing. The boys played with their whole heart on the pitch.”
Liverpool’s charge to last year’s Champions League final was spearheaded by Salah’s 44-goal season.
And after signaling his return to top form by scoring a hat-trick in a 4-0 win at Bournemouth on Saturday that sent Liverpool to the top of the Premier League, Salah’s 13th goal of the campaign relegated Napoli to the Europa League in the new year despite losing for the first time in Europe this season.
“It’s a real shame our efforts haven’t been rewarded,” said Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti.
“We have no regrets. Overall the group of players have done extremely well. We took it down to the wire.
“You can’t expect to come to Liverpool and create 10 really good chances. We had one or two and didn’t have the luck to take one of them.”
Van Dijk’s lunge
The outcome might have been very different if Virgil van Dijk had been sent off rather than just shown a yellow card for a dangerous lunge on Dries Mertens after just 15 minutes that will keep him out of the first leg of Liverpool’s last-16 tie.
UEFA will introduce the video assistant referee (VAR) system for the last 16, but Ancelotti bemoaned the delay in using the technology during the group stage.
“Seeing on the video, I knew it was a red card,” added Ancelotti. “When VAR comes to the Champions League, it is too late.”
Liverpool took control as the first half wore on and broke the deadlock when Salah outmuscled Mario Rui and skipped past Kalidou Koulibaly before squeezing the ball underneath Ospina from a narrow angle.
Had Liverpool conceded, the Reds would have had to win by two goals because of their 1-0 loss in Naples.
The host failed to cash in after dominating the early stages of the second half, then managed to muster some late pressure.
Salah pulled a shot into the sidenetting from a far better angle than the one he scored, while Milner and Van Dijk sent long-range efforts flying just wide of the target.
Ospina made acrobatic saves to thwart Salah and Sadio Mane once more before Mane failed to hit the target with two glorious chances, much to Klopp’s dismay.
Napoli should have equalized 12 minutes from time when Jose Maria Callejon spooned over a glorious chance at the back post.
The visitor’s best opportunity came in the dying seconds, only for Alisson to stand tall to keep a 12th clean sheet in 22 appearances and ensure Liverpool live to fight another day in the Champions League this season.
The goal Mo scored, what a goal! And the save Ali made (was) unbelievable. He was of course a lifesaver tonight.” Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool manager