Let’s get this out the way right from the beginning. Simon Mignolet is a good goal keeper. Loris Karius is a good goal keeper. Both have made some absolutely incredible saves when in goal for Liverpool but, neither of the Belgian or the German is a great goalkeeper.
Neither one of them bring a sense of calmness to the fans and while Alisson Becker will make mistakes, he is everything you want in a modern-day goalkeeper. He is a great goalkeeper. We saw exactly why Jurgen Klopp splashed the cash on him this summer at Selhurt Park on Monday night.
Firstly, he catches corners. I can’t remember the last time a Liverpool goalkeeper has come for crosses and corners with so much confidence. It brings so much joy to my face, it’s indescribable.
The biggest moment for me came from a second-half free kick. While it looked like a fairly routine stopped as he palmed the free kick away for a corner, it was far from it. The ball was bent around the wall and Alisson had to be alert to pull off a top class save. The boss celebrated it with as much passion as a goal. He knew what a top save it was. The first thing that popped into my head after that save was whether or not Karius saves it?
Answer: He doesn’t.
Last season, in the city of Moscow, Karius was left flat-footed as a free kick was sent closer to the middle of the goal than the top corner. He just stood there as if Roberto Carlos had bent one around the wall with the outside of his foot into the top corner.
I’ve got to touch on Alisson’s distribution next. We’ve got an improved version of Xabi Alonso playing in goal! The man literally picks out passes around the field like he’s the greatest holding midfielder of our generation. It’s absurd. I could not believe it. Absolutely brilliant!
Lastly, this opinion is controversial. But, I do not really care. He saves that Andros Townsend strike if it’s going in. He’s not as well beaten as some say. The reason it hits the bar is because it’s gone over his hands; not through them. He was ready to pull off the save of the season. However, that is rather irrelevant. The ball hit the crossbar and so no further analysis is required.
Up the only two clean sheets in two games in the Premier League Reds!
