Goalkeeper Alisson earns Liverpool vital stoppage-time win over West Brom
West Brom 1-2 Liverpool: The Reds’ goalkeeper heads in four minutes into injury time to keep his side in the hunt for the top four
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
Liverpool’s top-four hopes were boosted late in the day on Sunday afternoon after goalkeeper Alisson Becker scored an incredible late winner to beat relegated West Brom 2-1.
It marked the second time in the space of four days that Jurgen Klopp’s side had to come from behind to take the points, after their midweek win over Manchester United.
The Reds needed to keep winning to keep the pressure on Chelsea and Leicester, but once again struggled to find a clinical edge against a team at the bottom, despite Mohamed Salah keeping pace with Harry Kane in the race for the Golden Boot.
An early shot from Thiago Alcantara - the game’s stand-out performer - and a flicked header from Curtis Jones signalled the Reds’ intent to attack, though the Baggies had their own half-sights of goal via set-pieces.
It was open play, though, and a moment of disorganisation in the makeshift defence of the away side which led to the opener; Fabinho lost an aerial battle, Rhys Williams stepped out to challenge, Nat Phillips was deeper to play Hal Robson-Kanu onside.
Every goalkeeper goal scored in the Premier League – ranked
The Welshman’s finish was exquisite, curled into the far bottom corner beyond the reach of Alisson Becker.
Sadio Mane was presented with a great opportunity to equalise after a flowing move with Thiago at its heart, but he drilled his shot wide of the near post. The No. 6 then fizzed a pass in to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold a shooting chance - this one over the bar - and an equaliser wasn’t much longer in coming.
The recalled Mane it was who made the goal, playing forward quickly after a free-kick and then winning a tackle on the edge of the West Brom box - but the strike from Salah was unerring, first tie into the far bottom corner.
Within minutes it might have been 2-1 to either side; Roberto Firmino smashed a shot on the turn onto the post, before another defensive mix-up between Phillips and Williams let Robson-Kanu through again, Alexander-Arnold this time coming to the rescue with a last-ditch tackle.
Mane slid in another just after the restart, only to be flagged offside, before Salah spurned a one-on-one after a lightning break following a West Brom corner.
West Brom remained a threat off set-pieces and on the counter, though, as the Reds pushed forward for the second goal they needed to keep their Champions League hopes alive - and they were indebted to an officiating call too, after Kyle Bartley’s prodded finish was ruled out due to Matt Phillips obstructing Alisson’s view from an offside position.
Jurgen Klopp threw on Xherdan Shaqiri and Gini Wijnaldum in the search for a late winner and the latter had the best chance - but fired high and wide from the edge of the box in the closing minutes.
Just as it seemed all hope was lost and that Liverpool would be all-but-out of the race for the top four once more, Alisson went up for a 94th-minute corner - and rose highest to plant a brilliant effort into the far corner and save the day for his team.
The Reds are now one point off Chelsea and three behind Leicester, with the FA Cup finalists due to face each other on Tuesday night.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments