Daley Blind's attempt was thwarted by Liverpool's goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the Champions League clash between Girona and Liverpool. — AFP
Liverpool's Alisson was a key figure in their Champions League victory at Girona on Tuesday, making several crucial saves as he returned from a hamstring injury. Manager Arne Slot was effusive in his praise for the Brazilian, highlighting his significant contribution to Liverpool's flawless record.
Alisson had been sidelined since October 5 due to the injury, but his return showcased why he remains Slot's preferred choice. Despite Caoimhin Kelleher's impressive performances in his absence, Alisson's timely saves, including one before Mohamed Salah's penalty secured the win, reaffirmed his importance.
"Alisson certainly didn't appear rusty after two months out," Slot remarked. "I even joked with the players, wondering if they were testing him by forcing him to make so many saves. But his performance underscored why he's our number one."
Liverpool defender Andy Robertson also commended Alisson but expressed dissatisfaction with the number of chances Girona created. Alisson made crucial saves from Alejandro Frances and Miguel Gutierrez in the first half.
"He's been out for a while, so it was natural to wonder if he'd be off his game, but he clearly wasn't," Robertson said. "However, we need to tighten up. We can't afford to leave so many gaps. Our pressing needs to be more aggressive and effective, especially in the first half, which felt too chaotic for our liking."
Slot also acknowledged Girona's strong performance, praising their quality despite their fifth defeat in six games, largely due to Alisson's heroics.
"I almost feel bad for Girona; they're a high-quality team that deserves more than the three points they've earned so far," Slot noted. "They executed a great game plan today, but we had an exceptional goalkeeper."
Meanwhile, Salah reached a milestone by scoring his 50th Champions League goal, equaling Filippo Inzaghi's record as the 10th highest goalscorer in the competition's history. With his contract set to expire at the end of the season, Salah's 16 goals across all competitions have been vital to Liverpool's strong first half of the season.
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