‘Performance of my life’ – Alisson Becker breaks stunning Liverpool record in virtuoso display
Alisson Becker staked his claim as the best goalkeeper in the world with a stunning display in a 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian shot-stopper made nine saves in the Liverpool goal, with the home team in Paris completely dominating the match with 27 shots overall and 70 per cent possession. There was absolutely no doubt who was the man of the match in ParisGetty Alisson held onto a number of tricky efforts, while he pushed even more to safety, while a one-on-one stop on Ousmane Dembele will live long in the memory. His nine stops is his joint-most as a Liverpool player, and the most of any goalkeeper for the club since records began in 2003. He also broke the record for most Champions League clean sheets for the Merseyside club with 22. And it wasn’t at all lost on him post-match when he was asked if it was his best performance of the season. “Yeah probably of my life, so far, hopefully,” he honestly said. “The manager was telling us how difficult it would be to play PSG, how good they are with the ball, we have to be ready to suffer. “So when you see the clips as well from the opponent you know what is coming, so much quality on their side.” Yet Alisson was keen to pay his teammates tribute, and explained in depth why they made the difference, as PSG finished with just 1.8 expected goals. He continued: “We worked hard, yeah we gave away so many chances, but always their player on the ball – not so many times, some of them were a one-v-one – but the biggest part of the chance is always having someone to make the player with the chance have to think a little bit more. “It makes my job easier, all the effort the team puts in, and at the end Harvey [Elliott] coming in and scoring the goal, it’s a great story for us, a great night.” Alisson left PSG scratching their headsGetty The Brazilian was simply sublime Matchwinner Elliott added his thoughts, having scored just 47 seconds after coming on the pitch. “I’ve got no words, this guy is unbelievable,” the youngster said. “The best in the world and each and every game he shows it. “He keeps us in so many games and then like tonight it’s my opportunity to repay this man, without him I don’t know where we’d be.” PSG manager Luis Enrique agreed, saying: “It’s very unfair. Maybe our most complete match in the Champions League. “Their best player was the goalkeeper. I’m very proud of my team, but football is sometimes unfair. We’ll think about the return match.” Adding further praise was ex-Red Jamie Carragher, who thinks Alisson’s heroics could end up going down in folklore if Liverpool go all the way. Elliott struck on 86 minutes, just 47 seconds after coming on, to give Liverpool a win in the first legGetty “They got away with it, that’s one of the biggest robberies you’ll ever see in football,” he began. “I can’t believe what I’ve just seen, PSG were just absolutely outstanding, brilliant, they absolutely battered Liverpool. “The last time they won this competition Alisson made a save against Napoli in the last group game and Liverpool could’ve gone out, that’s always looked back on as a defining moment. “That wasn’t just a save tonight, that was arguably the greatest performance of his career in a Liverpool shirt, and if Liverpool go on to win this competition that performance will be remembered for years to come.”
Alisson Becker staked his claim as the best goalkeeper in the world with a stunning display in a 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain.
The Brazilian shot-stopper made nine saves in the Liverpool goal, with the home team in Paris completely dominating the match with 27 shots overall and 70 per cent possession.
Alisson held onto a number of tricky efforts, while he pushed even more to safety, while a one-on-one stop on Ousmane Dembele will live long in the memory.
His nine stops is his joint-most as a Liverpool player, and the most of any goalkeeper for the club since records began in 2003.
He also broke the record for most Champions League clean sheets for the Merseyside club with 22.
And it wasn’t at all lost on him post-match when he was asked if it was his best performance of the season.
“Yeah probably of my life, so far, hopefully,” he honestly said.
“The manager was telling us how difficult it would be to play PSG, how good they are with the ball, we have to be ready to suffer.
“So when you see the clips as well from the opponent you know what is coming, so much quality on their side.”
Yet Alisson was keen to pay his teammates tribute, and explained in depth why they made the difference, as PSG finished with just 1.8 expected goals.
He continued: “We worked hard, yeah we gave away so many chances, but always their player on the ball – not so many times, some of them were a one-v-one – but the biggest part of the chance is always having someone to make the player with the chance have to think a little bit more.
“It makes my job easier, all the effort the team puts in, and at the end Harvey [Elliott] coming in and scoring the goal, it’s a great story for us, a great night.”
Matchwinner Elliott added his thoughts, having scored just 47 seconds after coming on the pitch.
“I’ve got no words, this guy is unbelievable,” the youngster said. “The best in the world and each and every game he shows it.
“He keeps us in so many games and then like tonight it’s my opportunity to repay this man, without him I don’t know where we’d be.”
PSG manager Luis Enrique agreed, saying: “It’s very unfair. Maybe our most complete match in the Champions League.
“Their best player was the goalkeeper. I’m very proud of my team, but football is sometimes unfair. We’ll think about the return match.”
Adding further praise was ex-Red Jamie Carragher, who thinks Alisson’s heroics could end up going down in folklore if Liverpool go all the way.
“They got away with it, that’s one of the biggest robberies you’ll ever see in football,” he began.
“I can’t believe what I’ve just seen, PSG were just absolutely outstanding, brilliant, they absolutely battered Liverpool.
“The last time they won this competition Alisson made a save against Napoli in the last group game and Liverpool could’ve gone out, that’s always looked back on as a defining moment.
“That wasn’t just a save tonight, that was arguably the greatest performance of his career in a Liverpool shirt, and if Liverpool go on to win this competition that performance will be remembered for years to come.”
