Liverpool's Alisson Becker Continues Concerning Theme Despite Clean Sheet vs Brighton - Opinion

Liverpool secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Brighton in the FA Cup fourth round at Anfield on February 14, 2026, advancing to the fifth round. Goals from Curtis Jones (42'), Dominik Szoboszlai (56'), and Mohamed Salah (68' penalty) sealed the win, with Alisson Becker keeping a clean sheet. However, despite the positive result, concerns linger over Alisson's recent form, highlighted by nervy moments that nearly cost Liverpool dearly[1][2][3][4].

The match started sluggishly for Arne Slot's side, possibly fatigued from midweek Premier League duties against Sunderland. Brighton created chances: Jack Hinshelwood headed over, and Diego Gómez was denied by Alisson's crucial first-half injury-time save. Early in the second half, Alisson faced embarrassment when Gómez charged down his clearance, the ball bouncing narrowly wide of an open goal—a concerning theme of distribution errors persisting in recent games[3][4][5]. He redeemed himself by clawing away Lewis Dunk's header shortly after.

Alisson earned a 7/10 rating across reports for his shot-stopping, including the Gómez denial and Dunk intervention, but critics point to avoidable risks. This fits a pattern: shaky kicks, poor sweeper-keeping, and lapses exposing the defense despite Liverpool's strong backline led by Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté[3][4][5]. Surprisingly preferred over Giorgi Mamardashvili, Alisson's selection underscores his status, yet questions arise if these "nearly disasters" signal deeper issues amid a demanding season[4].

Standouts included Milos Kerkez (8/10), whose perfect cross set up Jones' first goal in over a year (57 games since December 2024), and Salah, who assisted Szoboszlai's 10th goal before converting his penalty after earning it against Ferdi Kadioglu[1][3][4]. Jones (8/10) excelled at right-back before shifting midfield. Sub Joe Gomez returned capably from injury.

While the clean sheet masks it, Alisson's recurring vulnerabilities—highlighted by the botched clearance—continue to worry fans. In a title-chasing campaign, such themes demand addressing to avoid costlier slips[3][4][5]. Liverpool's progression offers momentum, but goalkeeper stability remains pivotal.

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