How Liverpool's Alisson dethroned David de Gea as Premier League's No 1 goalkeeper

Liverpool's 2-0 win over Manchester United at Anfield was a tale of 1,001 nights. 2-0 win at home to Man United meant that Liverpool are w unbeaten at Anfield in 1,001 days and counting. Club legend John Barnes was later asked if re were any nerves at Anfield when Reds had just a one-goal cushion towards tail-end of game. Barnes, in turn, replied by saying that signings of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker meant that Liverpool faithful showed signs of nerves during Liverpool vs Man United game against ir arch-rivals.

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Liverpool broke bank for Alisson, but Brazilian has repaid every penny

Alisson spent just one full season as AS Roma's . 1 before Liverpool decided to make him world's most expensive goalkeeper back n. Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga may have stolen that label weeks after, but Spaniard has failed to win over his doubters at Stamford Bridge. Alisson, on or hand, has worked wonders for Liverpool. 

Brazilian was brought in to shore up Liverpool's spine. signings of Alisson, Virgil van Dijk and Fabinho were meant to provide some steel to Liverpool's defence. A year and a half on, those signings seemed to have paid off. Alisson, in particular, paid a key role in Liverpool's run to pinnacle of European success last season. His effort to thwart Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik in 92nd minute t only kept Liverpool in Champions League but also proved to be platform for ir UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup success.

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Premier League has seen a number of goalkeeping imports over years. likes of Peter Schmeichel, Petr Cech and Edwin van der Sar have proven to be masterstrokes in Premier League success stories. David de Gea was last to join that league.

Signed as a lanky young Spaniard from Atletico Madrid, David de Gea had a tough time adjusting to life in England. A number of Man United fans thought him to be too weak, too frail to handle physicality of Premier League football. David de Gea's reflexes, however, were second to ne.

After an error-prone first season, Spaniard went on to establish himself as one of league's best. While he did have assurance of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic in his first couple of seasons, even after duo's retirement, David de Gea was arguably best goalkeeper in league.

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Alisson stats vs David de Gea stats

In 23 Premier League appearances this season, David de Gea has just four clean sheets to his name, conceding a total of 27 goals in process. Alisson, on or hand, has seven clean sheets and has conceded just five goals so far, despite missing first 11 games of season

 Add to that an assist registered in Liverpool vs Man United game, and it becomes clear that Alisson has usurped David de Gea's position as Premier League's best goalkeeper over last two seasons. While Brazilian may t be making flashier saves every week, his superior positioning allows him to be in an optimum position to save any efforts directed at his goal.

Alisson has saved last 21 shots at goal he has faced in all competitions this season, in conjunction with 38 saves he has made off last 41. That's a save percent coming up to 93% in all competitions. A fee of a reported £62.5 million may have seemed like overkill for a 'keeper with just one full season as a .1 under his belt, but Liverpool's transfer strategy under Michael Edwards has been near spotless. Alisson Becker is latest to join that list; . 1 of . 1s in Premier League. 

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