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Before Liverpool’s comfortable win over Chelsea, the feeling among a very select few was reminiscent of when Simon Mignolet was in goal. That certainly seemed to be the opinion of Jamie Carragher, who criticized Alisson Becker’s recent performances from Project Restart.
It is true that far more goals were conceded than we were used to seeing from this side of Liverpool before the block. Jürgen Klopp’s side only allowed 21 goals in their first 29 league games, but sent 12 in their last nine.
And then came the 4-3 thriller against Leeds United, where the focus and, incredibly, the qualities of Liverpool’s two pillars of consistency were back in the limelight. Virgil van Dijk was also challenged for one or two mistakes in recent games, including one that led to a goal against the Whites.
Let’s start with Alisson.
The Brazilian kept his first clean sheet of the season at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and his last came in a 2-0 win over Aston Villa in July. Yes, Liverpool have conceded more goals in recent games, but is Alisson really to blame for all of them? It is almost certainly not.
Take for example the triumph in the capital, the 27-year-old made a brilliant penalty save to deny Jorginho and end the Italian’s 100% record from zero point. A few minutes later he proved his worth by rejecting Tammy Abraham’s effort.
Alisson will be eager to win back the Golden Glove after losing the award to Manchester City’s Ederson last season. A clean sheet in his first two games represents a solid start to the campaign.
(Image: Andrew Powell / Liverpool Fc via Getty Images)
Back to the penalty, and this is where Van Dijk enters the scene. Alisson’s stop was his first in the Premier League since he arrived at Anfield two summers ago. In that time, he has appeared 68 times in the top flight without making a stop from the spot, and had to wait until his 69th exit for his first stop.
In August, against Arsenal at the Community Shield, Alisson did not make a single stop on the penalty shoot-out. You will know that you did not meet the high standards that have been set since your arrival.
Stopping Jorginho’s penalty shot will give Alisson a source of confidence. Seconds after Alisson saved the penalty, the first player to greet the Brazilian and congratulate him was Van Dijk.
Arguably the team bonding has never been as great as it is now under Klopp’s leadership, and Van Dijk would have known about Alisson’s record from the spot and was delighted with his teammate for more than just helping him get all three. points.
On the Dutchman and, with makeshift center-back Fabinho alongside him, he made what should have been a difficult task against the speedy Timo Werner seem relatively easy. A typical Van Dijk performance. When three points are at stake and the title race is in its infancy, the Holland captain has the ability to put on a graceful performance and get the job done. Case and point, yesterday’s victory at Stamford Bridge.
Although he was apparently never forced to make any last tackles, Van Dijk’s mere presence is often enough to displease opposing forwards, but this was also the case for fellow central defender Fabinho in the capital.
Both Van Dijk and Alisson bring confidence and, more importantly, confidence to the rest of the team and also to the fans. You never feel like either of them will make a mistake, which is probably why when they do they are the headlines.
Liverpool have rightly come to rely on their paternal presence on the pitch, given their form in recent seasons. Seeing them scattered bugs in any shape or form seems strange. Yesterday when it mattered they both rebooted.
There will be plenty of Alisson hitting the ball over the heads of the forwards, or Van Dijk playing one two with himself, but for now the serious things are starting again, and it seems they have both taken notice. In these types of games, class and quality are typically displayed, as was the case with Liverpool and its two symbols of coherence, which once again showed their true worth.
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