HERO ALISSON HAS MILNER IN WONDERLAND

JAMES MILNER believes that Alisson is a key factor in Liverpool’s defensive excellence this season.

The Reds have the meanest back-line in the

Premier League, and while Virgil van Dijk has rightly received praise,

Milner (right) reckons his keeper is another stand-out performer.

Asked who has caught the eye in a recordbreaking campaign, the versatile veteran said: “He’s been unbelievable: From how he is around the place, to how good he is on the pitch with his feet and with the saves he makes.

“Coming to a new league is never easy. It’s a new lifestyle and you are also getting used to the weather and things like that.

“Every single player makes mistakes and sometimes as a keeper you maybe feel a bit different because mistakes often result in a goal.

“But if he makes a mistake it doesn’t faze him in the slightest and he remains confident and continues playing as if nothing has happened. That’s so important.

“He’s been unbelievable for us this season and I believe he’ll be a massive, massive player for us going forward.” Milner himself will play a hugely important role for the Reds in the coming weeks, after Trent Alexander-arnold picked up a knee injury at Brighton.

The right-back (below) will be ruled out for up to a month after tweaking ligaments, but the problem doesn’t require surgery, and the young England player may just miss three games. Boss Jurgen Klopp will refuse to panic despite letting Nathaniel Clyne leave for Bournemouth on loan. He sees Milner as a vital influence and is keen to give him game-time – and being next in line as back-up to both full-backs allows that. Georginio Wijnaldum has a knee injury, but could make Saturday’s game against Crystal Palace.

UNBEATABLE Alisson has had a big hand in improving Liverpool’s defensive record