When Liverpool paid £66.8 million (€72.5 million) to sign Alisson Becker from AS Roma in July 2018, the transfer set a record as the most expensive for a goalkeeper in football history. Though Chelsea surpassed that fee four weeks later by signing Kepa Arrizabalaga, the Brazilian’s inaugural year on Merseyside has proven to be priceless.
Fresh off
Brazil’s Copa América triumph on July 7, 2019, Alisson has completed what can
only be described as a perfect 12 months for club and country. His journey—from
competing with his brother Muriel and Brazilian legend Dida at Internacional,
to biding his time behind Wojciech Szczęsny at Roma—has culminated in a
dominant, award-sweeping campaign.
From
Porto Alegre to Rome: Building the Complete Goalkeeper
Alisson's
trajectory has been defined by patience and rapid growth:
Internacional
(2013–2016):
Joining the youth academy in 2002 at age ten, Alisson made his senior debut in
February 2013. He won four consecutive Campeonato Gaúcho titles and amassed
over 100 appearances before earning a €7.5 million move to Serie A.
AS Roma
(2016–2018): In his
first season, Alisson made 15 appearances in cup competitions while serving as
understudy to Szczęsny. Upon taking the No. 1 jersey in 2017–18, he kept 22
clean sheets across all competitions, anchoring a defence that reached the UEFA
Champions League semi-finals without conceding a single European goal at the
Stadio Olimpico until the semi-final second leg against Liverpool.
The
Transformation of Liverpool’s Defence
Upon
arriving at Anfield in August 2018, Alisson made an immediate impact, keeping
three consecutive clean sheets in wins over West Ham United, Crystal Palace,
and Brighton. He anchored a 20-game unbeaten Premier League streak from the
start of the season—breaking Javier Mascherano's club record.
Alisson
went on to keep 21 clean sheets in the Premier League, earning the Golden Glove
award in his debut campaign. His 17th clean sheet on March 4 marked the highest
total by a Premier League goalkeeper in their debut season since Pepe Reina in
2006.
Decisive
Moments on the European Stage
While his
consistency powered Liverpool to a 97-point Premier League finish, Alisson’s
legacy was sealed in the UEFA Champions League:
The Napoli Save: In the final group game at Anfield, Liverpool required a 1–0 win to advance. In the 92nd minute, Arkadiusz Milik found space inside the six-yard box. Alisson rushed off his line to make a point-blank save, preserving the victory and keeping Liverpool's European campaign alive.
The
Barcelona Comeback:
Facing a 3–0 deficit from the first leg, Liverpool staged a historic 4–0
victory at Anfield in the semi-final second leg. Alisson made several crucial
saves—denying Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba—to keep a clean sheet and prevent a
fatal Barcelona away goal.
The
Madrid Final: On
June 1, 2019, Alisson made eight saves in the 2–0 final victory over Tottenham
Hotspur at the Estadio Metropolitano. His shutout sealed Liverpool's sixth
European title and his first major silverware with the club.
International
Glory: Brazil’s Wall at the Copa América
Selected by
Tite for the 2019 Copa América on home soil, Alisson carried his club form onto
the international stage.
Throughout
the tournament, Brazil went five consecutive matches without conceding a single
goal, including a penalty-shootout victory over Paraguay in the quarter-finals
and a 2–0 win against rivals Argentina in the semi-finals.
The only
goal Alisson conceded during the entire tournament came via a Paolo Guerrero
penalty in Brazil's 3–1 victory over Peru in the final on July 7.
Unsurprisingly, he was named the tournament's Best Goalkeeper.
Having
secured the Premier League Golden Glove, the UEFA Champions League title, and
the Copa América trophy along with its Best Goalkeeper award, Alisson Becker
has completed a golden sweep across domestic, continental, and international
competitions. His ability to combine elite shot-stopping with composure on the
ball has set a new benchmark for modern goalkeepers.
Thank You
Faisal Caesar
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