TEARFUL Alisson Becker dedicated his astonishing stoppage-time winner at West Brom to his late father – and said he hoped he was watching somewhere.
After incredibly nodding Liverpool one point off the top four from a 95th-minute corner, the Brazilian’s first thoughts in an emotional post-match interview were for tragic Jose Agostinho Becker.
Becker Senior drowned aged just 57 at a lake on the family ranch in Brazil three months ago.
Coronavirus travel restrictions stopped the Reds’ keeper from attending the funeral.
But Alisson is certain his dad is “celebrating’ after the 28-year-old became the first Liverpool keeper EVER to score a competitive goal as he sealed a 2-1 comeback triumph.
He told Sky Sports: “I’m too emotional this last month, for everything that has happened with me and my family.
“But football is my life. I played since I can remember with my father.
“I hope he was here to see it, I’m sure he is celebrating with God at his side.”
Victory maintained the Reds’ hopes of qualifying for the Champions League, having won the Prem last season by 18 points.
And Alisson added: “Sometimes you are fighting and things aren’t happening.
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“I’m really happy to help them because we fight together and have a strong goal to achieve the Champions League, because we have won it once and everything starts with qualification.
“So I can’t be more happy than I am now.”
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp hugged a crying Alisson at the final whistle after being shocked and “touched” by a matchwinning moment he claims was unique in his career.
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Klopp and the rest of the Reds’ bench went crazy when Alisson’s bold venture into the Baggies’ box FIVE minutes into added time was emphatically rewarded.
And the German told Sky: “Pffttt, Unbelievable, what a header! I’ve never seen anything like that.”
“It’s touching, it’s only football but it means the world to us.”
Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara was also full of praise for his ‘beloved team-mate’ for the way he has dealt with his personal tragedy.
That Spaniard said: “I’ve been in many great teams with many great forwards but I’ve never seen the quality and timing of the header from Alli, the cross was amazing as well, everything was great.”
“We have to watch and re-watch that goal because it’s so emotional for us, not just for our Champions League chances but for Alli with what we has been through this year, so we are so happy for him.”
“He’s a beloved team-mate for all of us. He has faced it with a strength I have never seen in my life.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
