Alisson Becker secured three points for Liverpool at the Hawthorns where they beat West Brom and has helped in closing the gap between them and Chelsea to one point.
Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool needed everything on Sunday to collect three points. Certain periods during the 90 minutes of football, it appeared once again as if Sam Allardyce was about to have a say in the Reds’ campaign.
The Baggies grabbed the first of the game through the Welsh striker, Hal Robson-Kanu. His first start for the season was rewarded with his first Premier League goal for the campaign.
It didn’t take long for the Reds to hit back, though. A better showing in front of goal is all that was missing and needed to see them put up a strong fight.
Less than 15 minutes later, the visitors pulled one back through Mohamed Salah and the game was again on level terms. What happened next must be recognised as the second-biggest moment of the game – that was the disallowed goal for the home side.
This decision had heavy implications on the result, hence Allardyce’s saltiness in his post-match press conference. Allardyce wasn’t at all happy about the official’s decision and made the statement that Jurgen Klopp was a “lucky man”.
Even though he felt so outdone by the goal that would have seen West Brom take the lead for the second time in the match, we’ve seen goals disallowed all season long when applying the rule of goalkeeper interference, which shows consistency for once.
We also do know, if “Big Sam” was on the rewarding end of such a decision he would not have batted an eye and would never see himself as lucky for such a decision.
The signs were there that Liverpool were not going to get the win on Sunday
The first sign was when the Reds conceded first to West Brom. The next few signs came between Salah’s leveller and Alisson’s history-making moment. The Reds were poor in almost every department on the pitch.
Badd passing, bad decision-making, and bad execution all over the field by almost every player in red barring Thiago Alcântara, led to many worrying moments for Jurgen Klopp.
The Baggies looked threatening at every set-piece, even dominating aerial duels over at the other of the pitch when defending Trent and Robertson corners. It gave the impression West Brom would go up first.
They did but that extra bit of luck needed was handed to the Reds with the goal against them being overturned. This gave them hope and restored the momentum in their favour.
However, when the clock hit 90 minutes played with four added-on minutes shown by the fourth official, the game looked well and truly over – and the score would stay 1-1.
The biggest moment of the game was when the final goal was scored by the unlikely figure, Alisson Becker.
The one duel West Brom lost in the air was the one that mattered most. How often do we see goalies go up for the final kick of the game – especially when it is a corner?
There have been countless times. How many times have we seen it actually play into full effect? Not many times have we seen a team’s stopper get on the end of any delivery.
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This time we did, thankfully. Alisson Becker made Liverpool’s last bit of action count for three points and a strong ending in their fight for a top-four spot.
He scored the final goal which was a massive blow to Sam Allardyce and his men. It was also the first time in the history of Liverpool, that a goalkeeper has scored in a professional match for them.
This was also the Reds fourth game in 6 played that they’ve scored in the dying minutes of the encounter – proving they want to fight for their right to be in next season’s Champions League tournament.
I’ve already lost count of how many times Alisson has had to save his side from dropping points or getting eliminated from specific tournaments with the final save of the game.
To go and apply the finishing touches on a result over at the other side of the ptuch just justifies his price tag and that he is a world-class stopper.
We’ve now seen the Brazilian do it all with the ball at his feet. Last season’s assist for Mo Salah’s goal against rivals Manchester United and a goal this season to help his teammates to three points.
Liverpool keeps the power of Champions League qualification in their hands and are prepping for a trip to Turf Moor for a must-win match against Burnley.