Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has quickly unravelled this season as the Reds find themselves eight points off the pace.
Five defeats in their previous six league matches has brought an early end to any notion that Arne Slot’s team can challenge Manchester City and Arsenal once again.
The reasons for Liverpool going from imperious champions to blunderous nobodies have been pored over in the press, and likely in the Anfield changing room as well.
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As ever when a top football team suddenly tanks, there is no overriding cause, but rather lots of slightly smaller issues which melt together to form a perfect storm.
The ones mainly raised over recent months have been Florian Wirtz’s lack of form, Slot’s inability to settle in his new signings and a difficulty adapting to the new, cut and thrust style of the Premier League.
However, in amongst it all, Liverpool have been missing one of their absolutely key players, which has largely been overlooked. When Alisson Becker last played for Liverpool, they had played six and won five Premier League matches. His absence has no doubt led to more than one of the subsequent defeats.
Alisson Becker warms up ahead of Liverpool's UEFA Champions League match against Galatasaray at Rams Park.
Photo by YAGIZ GURTUG/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
Alisson Becker would have saved Liverpool points
Prior to his injury, Alisson had started the season in terrific form. Even during his last Premier League appearance – away at Crystal Palace – he was comfortably Liverpool’s best player.
Since he picked up a hamstring injury at the end of September, Giorgi Mamardashvili has come in and done a decent job for Slot.
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Stepping into his shoes, though, the Georgian is held to the same standard as Alisson and has clearly not quite hit the heights of the Brazilian.
While that is understandable and should not be held against Mamardashvili, it should not be controversial to say that Alisson would have saved Liverpool a handful of points over the course of the last five matches.
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It is not only with his superior shot-stopping ability that Alisson would have allowed Liverpool to gain ground on Arsenal, but also in his leadership of the back four.
With plenty of chopping and changing in the defence, the bedding in of a new goalkeeper in amongst that has likely only made matters worse, no matter his quality. Had Alisson carried on, greater continuity would have been there. He would have helped massively.
Alisson closing in on return
When Liverpool signed Mamardashvili in 2024, they did so under the assumption that he would see plenty of game time when he eventually joined.
After Alisson picked up his customary hamstring injury, that assumption was duly proven correct.
Mamardashvili will be a top goalkeeper for Liverpool, there’s already been enough evidence of that. However, Reds fans will be desperate to get their No. 1 back and put this dreadful run behind them.
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Happily, reports this week claim that Alisson could start against Nottingham Forest, when Liverpool return to action after the international break.
It may be harsh on Mamardashvili to drop straight down to the bench, but it is not a slight on him. Alisson is simply the best there is in world football. Any team would drop off without their best players for a period of time, and when that player is capable of changing the course of a result, it is even more of a blow.