Football Today
·11. Dezember 2024
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·11. Dezember 2024
Liverpool are through to the Champions League last 16 thanks to Mohamed Salah’s penalty in the 1-0 win over Girona on Tuesday night.
The Reds have picked up six wins in a row in this competition, but Arne Slot was not happy with the performance from his side.
Liverpool were below par, and they were rescued by returning visiting goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who made a string of fantastic saves.
After he made a brilliant save to deny Yaser Asprilla, Stephen Warnock hailed him as “stunning” while commentating on the game for BBC Radio.
He said, as quoted by BBC Sport: “Absolutely stunning from Alisson. He makes saves look so easy.
“He got two big strong hands to it and pushed it to safety.”
Slot made it clear already that Alisson will remain as the first-choice goalkeeper, and he will start once he returns from injury.
Rory Smith suggests that Alisson could be sold in the summer transfer window, but as of now, he is going to start for the Reds once again, despite the fact that Caoimhin Kelleher deputised admirably in his absence.
Alisson, who is on £150k-per-week wages, picked up a muscle injury against Crystal Palace in October. Liverpool were very cautious with him and didn’t take any risks.
On his return to the side, he has proved once again why he has been so important to this club all these years.
Slot’s side have made a dream start in Europe this season, and they will directly go into the last 16. For the next two games, he can rest some of his big players.
Nobody expected the transition from Jurgen Klopp to the Slot era to be this smooth, and clearly, they should be one of the favourites to win the competition.
No team in Europe will fancy their chances of playing against Liverpool in the knockout rounds, and that shows how good they have been so far.
Liverpool are also four points clear at the top of the Premier League with a game in hand.