Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson is the most relieved man in Aston Villa’s stadium tonight.
Just ask the man in the home dugout, Steven Gerrard.
Premier League title races can be decided by major errors in massive games – and the Liverpool keeper very nearly made it one away to Aston Villa tonight.
Twenty minutes into a rip-roaring opening half, in which Joel Matip scored after six minutes to cancel out Douglas Luiz’s early opener, the Brazilian stopper almost handed the hosts a big advantage.
The former Roma keeper, a £66 million signing in 2018, was miles from his own box as Fabinho passed back to him.
Under pressure from Ollie Watkins, Alisson passed straight to the Villa hitman, but he wasn’t expecting it and the ball sort of bounced off him.
On another day, Watkins has an open goal from 40 yards to aim at and Jamie Carragher, speaking live on Sky Sports, is stunned that the often-reliable figure even tried the pass.
He told Sky Sports: “I can’t believe he even attempted that pass. Alisson has surely got to play the pass the other way.”
It finished 1-1 at the end of the half and honestly, Liverpool absolutely have to win.
Dropping another two points, days after Tottenham drew at Anfield, might well see Manchester City win the Premier League title.
Victory would see Pep Guardiola’s outfit – away to Wolves on Wednesday – move five points clear of the Reds with two Premier League games to go and that, as they, will be curtains for Jurgen Klopp’s troops.
Winning tonight is massive and Alisson needs to tighten up in a big way.
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