Liverpool might be faltering in the final third, but they will be glad that Alisson Becker has returned from injury to claim his spot in between the sticks.
The 31-year-old is such a key player for Jurgen Klopp and, in these moments when the forward players can’t put the ball into the back of the net, you need to shut it off at the other end.
You just know Alisson Becker will do that and provide those huge moments for Liverpool during this final run-in because it is now needed more than ever before.
But is he the best goalkeeper in the Premier League?
In truth, English football isn’t exactly blessed with a great depth of high-quality shot-stoppers, so the pool is small, in that regard.
Many would point towards Manchester City’s Treble winner Ederson, who has won it all under Pep Guardiola and battles for the gloves alongside Alisson for Brazil.
But former Premier League goalkeeper Brad Friedel doesn’t think Ederson is on the Liverpool man’s level, as he told talkSPORT (16/04/24 at 5:15 pm).
In fact, he thinks that Ederson is ‘brilliant’ for Man City’s team and Man City’s team only, with his biggest strength being what he can do when the ball is at his feet.
Friedel made it clear that Alisson is the ‘joint’ best in the Premier League alongside Aston Villa’s World Cup winner, Emiliano Martinez.
Alisson Becker, Ederson and Emiliano Martinez
“I would say it’s joint between Martinez and Alisson,” said Friedel on who is the best goalkeeper in the Premier League right now.
“No (not putting Ederson in). For Man City’s team, he is brilliant.”
Alisson Becker next season
When the new manager arrives next season, he is going to need all the help in the world and backing from the senior players.
The likes of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Mohamed Salah if he doesn’t go to Saudi Arabia and Trent Alexander-Arnold are going to be key.
You just feel, given that the next manager is going to replace Klopp, it’s not going to be easy and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he might need a push or to paper over a few cracks early on.
Alisson proved last season, even if the team is struggling, that the £67 million signing can still perform at the highest level.
