Craig Burley has made sure to praise Alisson Becker for the save he made from Phil Foden during the first-half of the draw between Manchester City and Liverpool on Saturday, labelling the stop an unbelievable one from the Brazilian.
Burley was speaking on ESPN after the Reds left the Etihad Stadium with a point on what certainly cannot be considered one of the goalkeeper’s finest afternoons.
Alisson is undoubtedly one of the best goalkeepers in the world. However, some will be scratching their heads wondering how he was not on the losing side against City.
Alisson made unbelievable save for Liverpool
Alisson was poor in possession all day, giving the ball away for the home side’s goal. He also gifted Phil Foden a brilliant chance in the first-half when he tried to lift the ball over the Manchester City star.
And Alisson was also a little lucky to be awarded a free-kick when he failed to deal with a corner and Ruben Dias put the ball into the net. In the modern game, it was a foul. However, no Liverpool fan will argue that it was not really poor goalkeeping.
Understandably, many were baffled by the 31-year-old’s performance. However, Craig Burley believes that not enough is being said about the good things he did.
“Isn’t it just the time we’re in now that we’ve actually incorporated in this discussion how Alisson looks wobbly with the ball at his feet, which is true, but actually, we haven’t even mentioned the fact that the save he made from Foden, the low strike in the first-half, it was hit low, hard and right at the corner, and he got down and got that big paw on it,” he told ESPN.
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“An unbelievable save. These things are not important now, are they?”
Goalkeeper will put tough day at the office behind him
Alisson is entitled to have an off day. He has produced so many colossal performances for the Reds over the years. And he remains one of the very best in the world.
It is just unfortunate for Jurgen Klopp’s men that it came in the clash with Manchester City. On another day, Alisson sets Mohamed Salah on his way and the opening goal does not happen. If anything, Salah leading a counter would have given Liverpool a glorious chance to take the lead themselves.
It did appear that Alisson really struggled. However, as Burley was keen to point out, the Liverpool goalkeeper did not let the side down for all of the key moments in the game.