Alisson Becker scored in the last minute of the stoppage time to earn Liverpool a priceless win. After Hal Robson-Kanu had put already-relegated Baggies ahead, Mohamed Salah had equalized for the Reds. Salah himself went level with Harry Kane in the thrilling race for Golden Boot.
In the second half, Liverpool created chances but were unable to finish them off. Sadio Mane had the ball in the net but he was clearly offside. It looked as though Jurgen Klopp’s men will drop two crucial points in the race for fourth. But in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Alisson ghosted in completely unmarked to head the ball past Sam Johnstone. A goal any centre-forward will be proud of. This was the first time that a goalkeeper has scored a header in the Premier League.
The goal sparked joyous and emotional scenes as the Liverpool players celebrated. It has been the most bizarre season ever, and a goalkeeper scoring an injury time winner could have happened in no other season but this. They say the saves made by a goalkeeper are sometimes as valuable as scoring a goal at the other end. Well, Alisson literally contributed at the other end too.
Coming to the significance of that goal, well that was huge. Liverpool are now just one point behind Chelsea in fourth, and three behind Leicester. They know that one of the two teams are set to drop points when they face off at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday. A top-four place looks pretty much in Liverpool’s own hands.
Up Next
West Brom host West Ham on Wednesday, 19th May in the Premier League.
Liverpool travel to Burnley on the same day in the Premier League.
Both matches will be played in front of fans, for the first time since November.