Mohamed Salah’s a centesimal objective at Anfield – amongst different achievements – grabbed the headlines however Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk believes goalkeeper Alisson Becker is greater than worthy of comparable recognition.
Salah’s solitary strike secured a sixth successive Premier League victory to take care of the Reds’ unlikely push for the Champions League however the 1-0 win was solely doable as a result of Alisson introduced up a century of unpolluted sheets within the sport.
In a disappointing season Alisson has been the membership’s most constant participant, even making an allowance for Salah reaching 30 targets for the marketing campaign for the fourth time in six years.
Van Dijk, who has not been immune from the struggles which have affected the entire aspect, recognises that.
“He’s an instance for lots of gamers, particularly goalkeepers. I’m very glad that he’s my goalkeeper and we’ve been very profitable,” mentioned the Netherlands captain.
“Clearly on the pitch his qualities are there for everybody to see – his contribution, the saves, the management, that’s all crucial – however away from the pitch is simply as necessary, the qualities he has.
“He’s an enormous, large chief within the group and somebody a variety of gamers look as much as.
“Clearly this (100 clear sheets) is for him an enormous second and hopefully there are lots of extra to come back.”
Liverpool, who’re in talks with former Wolfsburg sporting director Jorg Schmadtke to switch the departing Julian Ward, recorded back-to-back Premier League clear sheets for the primary time in two months – after they had three in a row – and solely the fifth event in the entire marketing campaign.
A lot of that poor file has been all the way down to how the staff defends and never Alisson’s performances, which have been usually higher than the remainder of the squad general.
Van Dijk accepts these failings however believes they’ve lastly began to iron out their points.
“He’s the one who has the best threat issue within the staff as effectively, if he makes a mistake then it’s a objective,” he added.
“It’s the entire doing it collectively sort of feeling that we really feel we’ve. That’s the idea.
“He would in all probability say that with out the boys in entrance of him and the midfielders and strikers doing their work, this (100 clear sheets) wouldn’t be doable. Everyone seems to be a part of it, however he ought to undoubtedly be happy with it.
“The final couple of video games, the dedication we’ve proven and the response once we misplaced the ball is essential.
“It’s necessary to get the ball again, win challenges, and whereas there’s nonetheless room for enchancment, profitable six video games in a row is one thing that has been unprecedented this season.
“However let’s simply maintain going and benefit from the second and take it into subsequent season.”
Van Dijk couldn’t, nonetheless, fail to recognise the enduring excellence of Salah, who has drawn degree with Steven Gerrard because the membership’s joint-fifth all-time goalscorer on 186.
It’s the Egypt worldwide’s relentlessness which units him other than most of his contemporaries, having been accessible for a exceptional 97 per cent of all Premier League and Champions League matches since he joined the membership in 2017.
“He’s doing it persistently, even once we are struggling he has nonetheless discovered a option to be necessary for the staff,” mentioned the Dutchman.
“Being constant each three or 4 days, clearly you’ll be able to have video games the place you don’t rating however you’ll be able to attain that degree, and in addition staying match that’s probably the most troublesome factor to do.
“Folks don’t actually talk about these sort of issues an excessive amount of, however perhaps we should always. On prime of that, his numbers communicate for themselves. On the planet we stay in these days, perhaps the respect comes after he has stopped enjoying.
“However I don’t suppose he cares about that anyway. He simply desires to maintain doing what he’s doing and be necessary for the membership. That’s the principle factor.”
Brentford’s bid for European soccer seems to be fading after simply two wins within the final 9 matches.
“That you must carry out nearly completely in opposition to these top-six sides,” mentioned head coach Thomas Frank.
“We’re undoubtedly getting nearer, we’ve proven that within the performances and the wins we’ve had thus far this season, however that you must be nearly good to get some extent or to win and, sadly, we weren’t fairly good, however we have been shut.”
