WATCH: Alisson on his wonder goal
HEROIC: Alisson Becker (C) celebrates with teammates
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson became the first goalkeeper in Premier League history to score with a header and also the first to score a winning goal when he did so against West Brom on Sunday.
With the scores level at 1-1 and the visitors on the brink of dropping vital points, Alisson headed home from a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time, the maiden goal of his career and also the first ever by a Liverpool keeper in the club’s history.
That header kept alive the Reds’ hopes of playing Champions League football next season, closing the gap between them and fourth-placed Chelsea to just one point.
Of his heroics, Alisson says: “I just tried to run into a good place and to be in a good position to help my teammates by bringing a defender with me. But nobody followed me and I was lucky and blessed to score.”
Wait for the reaction from the bench! 👌 pic.twitter.com/Yygin61VXY
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 17, 2021
The Brazilian usually only practises defensive headers in training, but was delighted to be given a chance at the other end of the pitch.
He says: “Sometimes in the training, you are just waiting and you are trying to have some fun. I don’t train to do that in the game.
“But I have at least a sense of how to head the ball because I do that a lot in the games to help defensively.”
Alisson has endured a difficult time this season due to injury and lost his father Jose in a tragic drowning incident in February.
He adds: “I am too emotional. These last months, for everything that happened with me and my family.
“But football is my life. I played since I remember with my father. I hope he was here to see it and I'm sure he is celebrating with God by his side.”