“It was the performance of my life,” Alisson Becker greeted after he played for Liverpool in their Smash-and-Grab 1-0 win over PSG.
How the side of Arne Slot came through their Champions League Last-16 first leg will analyze some analysis, but it came down to an excellent performance by goalkeeper Alisson, who received a rarely seen 10/10 players rating in Sky Sports' match report.
Without their player-of-the-match Brazil International, the chances of Liverpool could have been over in this competition, but he kept them long enough in the game for Harvey Elliott to slide a angular shot along Gianluigi Donnarumma with his first touch late in the second half.
Alisson was confronted with 27 shots and nine of them saved, but sometimes the only thing that stood in the way of complete destruction against completely dominant opponents.
When asked if that was his best performance of the season, Alisson replied: “Probably of my life.
“The manager told us how difficult it would be and we had to be ready to suffer. They have so much quality. We have given away so many opportunities, but in the end with Harvey who came in and the goal scored, it is incredible. A great story. A great night.
“They are a really good team. Hopefully we can play a better game at home in the second game. We have to recognize the quality in the PSG team, have the ball, create opportunities. It was a tough night but a happy ending.”
Slot said: “I don't think I worked with a keeper at this level – he is the best in the world. That showed that today.”
In the meantime, Elliott, who had only been on the field for 47 seconds, said when he scored: “He is [Alisson] The best in the world. He shows it every game and keeps us in so many games. Tonight was my chance to pay him back. Without him I don't know where we would be. Hopefully he can keep them out and we can continue to end the opportunities. “
A keeper of Masterclass on photos
Carra: Alisson's greatest performance ever
Jamie Carragher from Sky Sports speaks with CBS Sports:
“Have you left it? That is one of the biggest robberies you will ever see in football, that.
“I can't believe what I just saw. PSG was absolutely excellent and battered Liverpool.
“The last time Liverpool won this competition, Alisson Becker made a rescue against Napoli in the last group match of the group stage. Liverpool could have assumed that Napoli had scored. That is always found as a decisive moment.
“That was not a rescue tonight. That was perhaps the biggest performance of his career, especially in a Liverpool shirt. And if Liverpool starts winning this competition – which they have a good chance of, they are a lot better than what we saw tonight – then that performance will be remembered for years.”
Vinny's judgment from Paris
Sky Sports News' Vinny O'Connor in the Parc des Princes:
“Everything that Alisson did tonight was exemplary. The difference tonight was that when Donnarumma had to make his only meaningful salvation, he couldn't get enough.
“Smash and grab, name on the cup, turn off all the clichés that you like, but it doesn't take away what was a moment for Harvey Elliott in a season in which he struggled for playing time … replaced Mo Salah by just a few minutes to go and he takes the first leg winning goal.
“But this was a victory built at the Alisson's sparkle.”
Comments