The massive display screen within the nook of the quaint Estadi Montilivi displayed some pre-match leisure. For Liverpool’s reserve goalkeeper, anyway. Caoimhin Kelleher’s penalty save from Kylian Mbappe appeared about 20 minutes earlier than kick-off. It could be the spotlight of the Irishman’s profession. It was definitely the spotlight of his night time.

What adopted was an illustration of why Kelleher could also be the very best second-choice goalkeeper in soccer. Alisson’s return to the workforce was each foretold by Arne Slot’s stance of sustaining that, regardless of what number of saves Kelleher made, the Brazilian remained his first selection, and a significant choice. Consistent with Slot’s begin to life at Anfield, he bought it proper.

After two months out and 11 video games on the sidelines, Alisson was parachuted straight again in. His excellence in Girona preserved Liverpool’s immaculate begin to Champions League soccer underneath Slot and underlined the logic behind the pecking order. Kelleher is terrific however Alisson is Alisson, the person Liverpool made the most costly goalkeeper ever and the person who, in flip, made Liverpool Champions League winners. Jurgen Klopp’s favorite save in his eight-and-a-half yr reign was Alisson’s from Napoli’s Arkadiusz Milik in December 2018; with out that, Liverpool would have exited the competitors then and he would have been unable to make a collection of stops within the following summer time’s closing.

The stakes had been smaller in Girona however Alisson was excellent. Overworked, too, with Slot essential of the gamers who afforded him too little safety. “Each time we misplaced the ball, we weren’t aggressive sufficient so they might go nearly all the best way to our purpose and have a shot,” he stated.

And Alisson saved them. 5 in whole, probably the most he has made in a match underneath Slot, the very best a spectacular effort to frustrate Yaser Asprilla. He has a calmness that’s reassuring, a capability to look unaffected even when he does make errors. Cruelly for Kelleher, his final motion of his time in purpose was the error that allowed Fabian Schar to stage at St James’ Park. And but the in any other case impressed understudy was not dropped attributable to that. It was merely the case that Alisson was match once more. “We’ve an unbelievable goalkeeper,” stated Slot. His desire is for him to be an unbelievable spectator: throughout defensive frugality earlier within the season, he lamented that Alisson was required in any respect.

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Now he mirrored on the Brazilian’s comeback. “I stated as a joke that perhaps the gamers wished to see how match he actually was, so to provide him a lot work,” he stated. “He confirmed once more at present why I stated so many occasions that he’s our first goalkeeper. That has nothing to do with Caoimh – he did so, so effectively – however Alisson has been so necessary for this membership for therefore a few years and confirmed at present why he is without doubt one of the greatest or for my part the very best on the planet and let’s hope he can carry on placing these performances in and much more that he can keep match.”

Which is a pertinent level. It is a second consecutive season wherein Kelleher has made extra appearances than Alisson. Partially, it justifies the Irishman’s choice to remain thus far, whilst he needs first-team soccer. It’s a short-term repair: the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili subsequent summer time implies that, unusually, there are doubts about the way forward for every, whilst Liverpool appear to have the best goalkeeping choices within the sport. In the intervening time, they’ve a deluxe job-share.

Now the naked information are that Liverpool have gone 537 minutes with out conceding within the Champions League, a spell shared by two goalkeepers. Kelleher has three clear sheets to Alisson’s two, the Irishman 12 saves to the Brazilian’s eight. Kelleher’s show in opposition to Actual Madrid could dwell longest within the reminiscence however then there are occasions when Alisson goes about his work with an understated assurance.

open picture in gallery

open picture in gallery

He’s a extra skilled goalkeeper. He’s a much less emotional one, too, if solely as a result of few appear as naturally composed as Alisson. Kelleher could have exceeded expectations at Anfield. Alisson has met them; as a result of they had been so excessive when he arrived. The one criticism is his more and more patchy health file.

And there are occasions when Slot exhibits how he studied the Liverpool he inherited. As they closed in on him, they exited final season’s Europa League. Alisson was not fairly match sufficient to return for the primary leg in opposition to Atalanta; a beforehand sensible Kelleher was culpable for 2 targets in a 3-0 defeat. The lesson could have been: when Alisson is match, Alisson performs.

And after a second spell of excellence from Kelleher, he did, instantly and with an influence. It was a reminder of why Klopp used to sing “All you want is Alisson Becker” to the tune of Queen’s Radio Gaga. It’s tougher to think about Slot doing his greatest Freddie Mercury impression. However his sentiment could be the identical.