There wasn’t much to be positive about for Liverpool fans after being beaten 1-0 by Crystal Palace this weekend.
For a second game in succession, the Reds fell to defeat at Anfield. Having been without a loss for 14 months at home before Thursday, they’ve now been hit with back-to-back sucker punches.
Despite that, there was still some hope to cling to. That came largely in the return of injured players against Palace. Trent Alexander-Arnold has once again been compared to Kevin De Bruyne today and his comeback is indeed timely.
So too is Diogo Jota’s. Although the Portuguese hitman couldn’t find the net against Palace, he’s another who should help in the coming weeks.
Finally, Sunday also saw the return between the sticks of Alisson Becker. Having missed Liverpool’s last 15 games, it was brilliant to see Alisson back. And it wasn’t long before the Brazilian was reminding everyone of just how good he is.
Ben Foster hails Alisson save for Liverpool
Sunday’s game followed a similar pattern to many we’ve seen from Liverpool this season. Create plenty, fail to score and leave the door wide open at the other end.
Between this season and last season, it is more than a pattern that the Reds concede the first goal in games. It’s more or less guaranteed. Predictably, it happened again.
This time, that was all it needed for Palace to take the points back to London. But if it hadn’t have been for Alisson, they could easily have had a second.
Ultimately, it didn’t matter. But when Jean-Philippe Mateta pulled down a Joachim Andersen knock-down in the six yard box on 74 minutes, it looked for all the world like he’d put the game to bed. Somehow, Alisson flung out a right-hand and diverted Mateta’s point-blank effort over the bar.
And remarking on the save for his Cycling GK YouTube channel, former England ‘keeper Ben Foster said it reminded him of Jerzy Dudek’s famous stop in Istanbul.
“It’s reminiscent of Jerzy Dudek in the Liverpool final against AC Milan,” Foster raved. “He is two yards out right, this is the difference between a very top class goalkeeper. At that moment in time the only thing he can do is just go like that and try and make yourself somewhere something. It hits his strong hand and goes over the bar. I’m watching it and going ‘that is incredible.’ It’s incredible.”
What happened with Jerzy Dudek
For those unaware of the save Foster is referring to, it’s well worth looking up. Alisson’s stop from Mateta is indeed very similar to the heroics Dudek performed 19 years ago.
Obviously, the Polish goalkeeper’s stop was much more significant. But style-wise, they look virtually the same.
In 2005, Dudek somehow kept out Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko from two or three yards. With the goal gaping and a rebound falling to Shevchenko, you were just waiting for the net to bulge. But Dudek somehow blocked the shot and sent it over the bar for a corner. Miraculous.
In some respects, Alisson’s save was actually even better. It’s just a pity that his teammates at the other end couldn’t return his favour. Still, great to have the big man back.