Arne Slot acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at Montilivi Stadium (Image: Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
It wasn’t how Arne Slot would have planned it. But this was compelling justification of his assertion Alisson Becker remains very much Liverpool’s number one.
On a night when only strange mathematics prevented the Reds from securing progress to the Champions League knockout stages with two games to spare, they were indebted to an excellent showing from their returning goalkeeper to give Mohamed Salah the opportunity to net his 50th career goal in the competition and continue Liverpool's 100% start in this season's tournament.
The chants of “Alisson, Alisson” from the 492 travelling supporters camped in the far corner of the intimate Estadi Montilivi after one of several important first-half stops underlined the esteem in which the goalkeeper continues to be held.
Rightly so. Caoimhin Kelleher’s superb performances – and a cameo or two from Vitezslav Jaros – meant Alisson wasn’t overly missed during the 11 games in which he was absent.
There is a reason, though, the Brazilian is regarded by many as the finest goalkeeper of his generation. And while a largely subdued Liverpool won’t be happy at allowing Alisson the chance to demonstrate his wares, his display ultimately proved decisive against a side who, while well drilled under boss Michel, lacked the overall quality of their visitors.
While Liverpool struggled to find intensity in their game for large periods, their performance was sufficient to earn their fourth successive clean sheet and a welcome return to the mean streak on the road of earlier in the season having leaked at least two goals in each of their last four away games, culminating in the frustrating 3-3 draw at Newcastle United last time out.
Indeed, not since Christian Pulisic netted early on for AC Milan in September have Liverpool leaked in this Champions League, a run that now extends to 537 minutes.
While Alisson will command the attention, there was a confidence-boosting performance from Andy Robertson at left-back, covering well defensively when required and offering an option going forward. After a tough start to the campaign, this was much more like the Robertson of old.
The same, however, could not be said at the other end of the field. While Salah’s penalty extended his remarkable numbers this season to 16 goals and 12 assists in 22 outings, Darwin Nunez had another disappointing evening, spurning two chances before the break and disappearing out of view long before he was substituted during the second half.
Liverpool have rarely wasted time underlining their progress under Slot, and effectively securing their place in the Champions League knockout stages provides the Reds head coach with scope to rotate for the games in late January at home to Lille and away at PSV Eindhoven while sidestepping a two-legged play-off in February. With the hectic schedule showing no signs of letting up, the Reds should cherish every breather available.
They are needed. If the return of Alisson was the most notable change of the four made by Slot from the team against Newcastle, the understrength bench was a graphic illustration of the limited rotation options of the Reds boss given the lengthy absentee list.
There was little chance of the Brazilian easing himself back into action during a first half in which Girona, having shown too much respect to their visitors inside the first 10 minutes, were a danger when committing men forward.
Liverpool created the early chances, and it required a fine reactive stop from former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga to turn over Joe Gomez’s header from a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner. More routine was the goalkeeper’s parry moments later from a Nunez angled drive following a good ball by Ryan Gravenberch.
The game then settled into a pattern of Liverpool dominating possession but Girona capitalising on slack distribution or poor marking to fashion chances, particularly from wide positions. Alisson saved an effort from Alejandro Frances at the second attempt after a Miguel Gutierrez cross prompted danger, and then combined with Andy Robertson to thwart Bryan Gil after the offside flag failed to materialise.
The goalkeeper’s later stop from Gutierrez was somewhat unorthodox, but there was no doubting the quality of his save when springing to his right to keep out a Yaser Asprilla piledriver that was destined for the top corner. In response, Salah saw a lob drift wide on a transition, while Nunez should have done better than strike against the frame of Gazzaniga after being put away by the Egyptian.
The second half saw little initial change in the pattern of the game, a mistake by Alexander-Arnold inviting Arnaut Danjuma to have a shot beaten out by Alisson.
But Liverpool began to turn the screw on Girona and, in an attack that ended with Robertson drawing a save from Gazzaniga, they were invited to take the lead on 63 minutes when, after a VAR check, Donny van de Beek was adjudged to have caught the foot of Luis Diaz inside the area. Soft, yes, but Salah duly converted from the spot.
A deflated Girona soon ran out of ideas and, with Alexander-Arnold having a free-kick well saved and Salah seeing a shot deflected behind, Liverpool appeared the more likely to score again in the final quarter.
The Reds know they can play better. But even when those in front of him are largely failing to reach their best, Liverpool know that, in Alisson, they have a player who continues to make the difference.