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‘Superb’: Alan Shearer blown away by 29-year-old Liverpool player’s display yesterday
Alan Shearer has praised Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker for his efforts against Manchester City on Saturday.
The Premier League and England legend was covering the FA Cup semi-final clash live on BBC One.
Liverpool and City locked horns at Wembley for a spot in the final against Chelsea or Crystal Palace.
The two sides played out two 2-2 draws in the league this season, so many expected another closely-fought encounter.
It didn’t look like it was going to be the case early on, that’s for sure.
Jurgen Klopp’s charges raced into a 3-0 lead against a much-changed City side by half time.
Liverpool broke the deadlock after just nine minutes through yet another Ibrahima Konate header.
The 22-year-old has headed home the opener for Liverpool in both legs against Benfica and now against City.
Then, City goalkeeper Zack Steffen gifted Sadio Mane a second for Liverpool in the 17th minute.
He hesitated for after controlling a back pass, enabling the Senegal international to slide the ball into the net.
Mane then went on to add a third, capping off a superb team move to volley in at the near post.
However, City fought back in the second half and came close to forcing extra time.
Jack Grealish pulled one back for City early in the second half, before Bernardo Silva slotted home in the 90th minute.
A frantic end to the game followed, but Liverpool hung on to win 3-2 and reach the final.
Although it was close in the end, Alisson made several big saves in the game and kept the Reds in front.
Shearer believes Klopp’s decision to start his first-choice stopper made all the difference in the end.
“Liverpool were certainly gifted one goal and I think the goalkeeper should have done better with the other two as well,” he said ().
“Big decisions from Jurgen Klopp in terms of his team selection have helped win the game because there’s no doubt he played his number one goalkeeper.
“Manchester City didn’t and, ultimately, their goalkeeper has made mistakes which have cost them.
“Alisson in that second half, pulled off two very good saves – one, the one-on-one from Jesus, was superb.
“And that’s what’s turned out to be the difference.”