Allison Becker made Premier League history as he scored a stunning header with virtually the last touch of the game to keep Liverpool’s Champions League dream alive in the most dramatic of circumstances. With the scores level at 1-1 and Jurgen Klopp’s side needing a goal to finish in the top four, the German waved his keeper forward for a last second corner.
Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped the ball in and Allison, unmarked flicked the ball into the net with a brilliant header. It was an unbelievable moment in a crucial moment. The Brazilian becomes the only goalkeeper in the history of Liverpool football club to score a goal, and only the sixth in Premier League history. He has done something no other goalkeeper in the Premier League has ever done however - score a header - and in a side that has been lacking fluidity up front for the majority of the season, perhaps their best finisher was at the wrong end!
"I cannot be more happier than I am now," the goalkeeper said in an emotional interview at full-time. “I wish my father saw this [goal], but I’m sure he’s watching,” he said, having lost his father last year.
“God put his hand on my head today."
“I want to say thank you to everybody. Everton and Ancelotti sent me a letter, Man City and Chelsea. If it wasn't for you I couldn't get through this. I am away from my family.
"Hopefully I don't have to come up too many times to score goals," he finished.
That puts Liverpool just one point behind Chelsea, who play Leicester on Tuesday night in a game that could decide their Champions League fate. Those three points were so crucial and the Champions League winner from 2019 will be desperate to make it back into the competition once again.
It wasn’t an easy ride though and West Brom put in a great performance, even taking the lead early on. Liverpool’s defensive woes came back to haunt them early on as the young central defender Rhys Williams was caught out of position. The returning Hal Robson-Kanu raced through to score his first goal of the season with aplomb and put the cat amongst the proverbial pigeons.
Klopp’s reds bounced back however and it was Mo Salah, who brought the scores level with a typically sharp finish, as he hit the ball for the first time on his left foot to score his 22nd goal of the season. Having watched Harry Kane hit that same total earlier in the day, the Egyptian was in no mood to let him get the upper hand in the race for the Golden Boot.
Kyle Bartley unfortunately had a goal disallowed after a questionable offside decision kept the scores level, but that will become a mere footnote as Alisson stole the show in the 93rd minute. Liverpool have now scored 38 winning goals in the 90th minute of games in the Premier League, which is 13 more than any other team in Premier League history.
Alisson Becker. Premier League goalscorer. Football is absolutely ridiculous.
