We thought Alisson did well on his competitive debut yesterday.
After all, he kept a clean-sheet, played some lovely pinged passes when under pressure and Liverpool won 4-0!
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But after the game he received some criticism from pundits, especially Jamie Redknapp, who commented on his decision to punch a cross late on rather than catch it.
At the time, we admit too that we would have preferred for our Brazilian to hold on, but no danger came of it and the punch went to safety.
Goalkeeping expert, journalist and former keeper David Preece is about the best analyst of the position in the business though, and doesn’t think Alisson did anything wrong.
Here’s what he said on Twitter:
Ball comes across 6 yard box, Van Dijk slides to cut it out but sees Alisson coming out so pulls out. Alisson comes for it but sees VvD slide in so elects to punch and can’t foresee VvD leaving it so takes a safer option in his head. That’s why he doesn’t catch it.
— David Preece (@davidpreece12) August 12, 2018
Fair enough! This kind of thing could be avoided in the future with better communication between the pair, but this will naturally come in time.
Both are exceptional and will mainstays of Jurgen Klopp’s side throughout his tenure at the club – that much is undeniable.