Jurgen Klopp praises ‘world class’ goal after goalkeeper Alisson scores a stunning late winner to salvage Liverpool’s Champions League dreams in victory against West Brom
- Alisson scored a sensational 95th minute winner for Liverpool on Sunday
- The Brazilian’s shock goal gives the Reds a big boost to their top-four hopes
- Liverpool are now one point off Chelsea in the hunt for the Champions League
Jurgen Klopp saluted Alisson Becker’s astonishing winner after the goalkeeper’s header at already relegated West Brom salvaged Liverpool’s Champions League dreams.
The Brazil international glanced in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stoppage-time corner to clinch a dramatic 2-1 victory.
He became just the sixth goalkeeper to score in the Premier League after Peter Schmeichel, Brad Friedel, Paul Robinson, Tim Howard and Asmir Begovic.
Alisson scored a stunning late winner to keep the top-four in Liverpool’s own hands
Liverpool’s constant second-half pressure looked like counting for nothing after Mohamed Salah cancelled out Hal Robson-Kanu’s opener before the break.
But Alisson became the first Liverpool keeper to score for the club and moved the fifth-placed Reds to within a point of Chelsea in fourth with two games left.
Klopp said: ‘If Olivier Giroud is scoring that everyone says it’s a world-class goal, with Alisson doing it we have to say the same.
‘We created chances and it needed to come in the last second. What a goal, what a worldie and unbelievable goal, the technique was insane.
‘It couldn’t have been a better moment, it’s just perfect for today. If he is never doing it again I’m fine, it’s a perfect moment.
‘We didn’t have a lot of moments in this season so we shouldn’t take it for granted. My part of the goal is I didn’t shout to stay back.
Alisson became the first Premier League goalkeeper to score a winner for their club
‘He went there and what a goal, it’s incredible we have already seen it 10 times back in the dressing room.
‘He’s a wonderful person, funny, smart, thoughtful and intense in moments. He is just a great guy. It couldn’t have been for a better person after what he went through (losing his father).’
Albion took the lead after 15 minutes when Robson-Kanu wriggled onto Matheus Pereira’s pass to score his first top-flight goal since November 2017.
Salah levelled 18 minutes later as Albion were caught out by a quick free-kick after referee Mike Dean ordered a restart when he obstructed Fabinho.
Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino combined on the edge of the area and Salah curled into the bottom corner.
Firmino hit the post two minutes later and Mane had a goal disallowed for offside soon after the break.
Jurgen Klopp hugs Alisson after the match and hailed his late winner as a ‘world class’ goal
Liverpool’s pressure was relentless but they escaped with 20 minutes left when Kyle Bartley had a goal ruled out with Matt Phillips adjudged to be offside and interfering with play.
Alisson then thwarted Robson-Kanu before the visitors launched their late assault and Thiago and Alexander-Arnold fired off target.
Yet, just as it looked like the Reds’ top-four hopes were virtually over, Alisson came up to glance in Alexander-Arnold’s corner from six yards.
Albion boss Sam Allardyce said: ‘There’s no way with Matt Phillips in front of the goalie or not that goalkeeper would have saved that ball (Bartley’s disallowed goal).
‘That’s the way it is, we have to accept it and it’s disappointing. We switched off in the last few seconds of the game and allowed their goalkeeper to get the winner.
‘It’s difficult to take as we did exceptionally well against a very good Liverpool side. He’s 6ft 3in and we should have got one of our bigger players on him. It was a quality ball and quality header but he was free.
‘I couldn’t have asked for anything more. They were absolutely fantastic today in terms of their application.’
