Alisson splurge pays dividends for Liverpool
Coach Klopp lauds goalkeeper after crucial save in added time helps Reds qualify for last-16 stage
LIVERPOOL: Liverpool were saved the ignominy of an early Champions League elimination against Napoli as the huge money invested in goalkeeper Alisson Becker came good in a tense 1-0 win over the Italians.
The Brazilian number one rushed from his goal and spread his 6ft 3in frame to bravely block from Arkadiusz Milik deep into stoppage time. The save also preserved his 12th clean sheet in 22 appearances since Liverpool splashed a then world record £67-million fee on a goalkeeper.
“If I knew Alisson was this good — I would have paid double,” said a beaming Liverpool boss Juergen Klopp, clearly relieved to have escaped the group stages despite losing all three away games to group winners Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Red Star Belgrade.
Tied on points and head-tohead record with Napoli, Liverpool only progressed because they totalled more goals in their six group games.
“The save Ali made (was) unbelievable. It was of course a lifesaver tonight,” added Klopp.
Liverpool’s latest European night of joy at Anfield was saved because the club reacted to one to forget back in May.
Two huge errors from Loris Karius in last season’s 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Spanish giants Real Madrid proved the final straw for Klopp and his superiors when it came to skimping on goalkeepers.
Emboldened by the success of spending a world record £75 million for a defender on Virgil van Dijk in January from Southampton, and by Mohamed Salah’s 44-goal debut season after his high-priced signing from Roma, Liverpool again poached one of the Italian club’s marquee players in Alisson.
All three played a huge part on Tuesday. Salah scored the only goal of the game. After being fortunate to escape with just a yellow card for an early lunge on Dries Mertens, Van Dijk brilliantly marshalled the defence until Alisson’s late intervention.
“He’s been fantastic for Liverpool and for us,” said Van Dijk on Alisson’s impact.