Alisson really makes catching hard shots look easy.
A couple of things... First, thank you for pointing that out. I don’t think most folks have any idea how difficult it is to catch a hard shot, especially with the modern ball. It’s a simple physics equation, but the human body isn’t really built for it. The amount of energy that has to be dissipated through the elbows, wrists, and fingers is almost beyond what is physically possible. Think of how far a hard shot would rebound off a brick wall. All of that must be dissipated in less than 18”. It’s incredible. Alisson’s catching this season has been nothing short of remarkable. That leads into my next comment...
This is what blows my mind about his time at Liverpool. The biggest knocks against him at Roma were his rather regular boners with the ball at his feet (which we’ve seen at Liverpool, though he’s curtailed it
significantly) and his utter inability to hold the ball. Watch his highlight reels. Everything is a rebound. Granted, he had decent rebound control, but he never held anything.
Okay, so he’s improved. That’s what’s supposed to happen, right?
This has happened with a goalkeeper coach I’ve railed against as long as anybody here can remember. John Atcherberg had made fucking up promising goalkeepers an art form. Now Liverpool have one of the best 1-2’s in the business. Even Adrian has been dependable and consistent when called upon (something he’d never been accused of before). I have no idea what’s happened, but it’s totally new, totally unexpected, and totally appreciated.