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LIVERPOOL’S CAOIMHIN KELLEHER SIGNS NEW LONG-TERM CONTRACT, VOWS TO COMPETE WITH ALISSON BECKER

Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has pledged to continue pushing first-choice Alisson Becker after signing a new contract.

The Republic of Ireland international, 22, enjoyed a landmark season, making five appearances in the Premier League and Champions League to establish himself as number two at Anfield, while also making his Republic of Ireland debut.

“For me, it was a positive moment to commit my future to the club for the next few years,” Kelleher, who had made four cup appearances in the 2019-20 campaign, told liverpoolfc.com after signing what is understood to be a five-year deal.

“It’s such a big club and it’s an honour to be a part of it, so when I got the chance to sign for a few more years I was obviously delighted. I just want to keep my progress going at the club.

“It was a big year for me in terms of playing the first-team games this year and more important games; being thrown into the Champions League and Premier League games was big for my development and being able to handle that.

“It gave me a lot of confidence to try to push on, to try to keep pushing Ali because I can play at that kind of level as well and do well.

“I am looking forward, try to keep pushing him and we’ll see what happens.”

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EMOTIONAL ALISSON BECKER DEDICATES DRAMATIC GOAL TO HIS LATE FATHER

An emotional Alisson Becker fought back tears after the goalkeeper’s stoppage-time header clinched Liverpool’s dramatic 2-1 win at West Brom.

The Brazil international glanced Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner past Sam Johnstone at the death to score a shock goal that moved the Reds to within a point of fourth-placed Chelsea with two Premier League games left.

Alisson dedicated his goal to his father, Jose Agostinho Becker, who drowned near his home in Brazil in February.

“I’m too emotional,” Alisson told Sky Sports. “This last month for everything that happened with me, with my family, but football is my life, the places, everything I remember as a human being.

“With my father, I hope he was here to see it, but I’m sure he was seeing, with God at his side, celebrating.”

Alisson, unable to return to Brazil following his father’s death due to the coronavirus pandemic, also said his goal was for his family and team-mates.

“What a fight,” Alisson said. “Sometimes we are fighting and fighting and things are just not happening like this afternoon here and just scoring this goal, I’m really happy to help them because we fight a lot together.

“We have a goal to achieve the Champions League because we won it once and everything started with the qualification, so I can’t be more happy than I am now.”

He joked it was the best goal he had scored, adding: “It was the perfect time. The cross was brilliant again. I just tried to put my head on the ball and I think it was one of the best goals I’ve scored!

“I’m really happy. I don’t have too many words, I just have to say thank you to the players because they fight a lot. We fight a lot.”

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GOALKEEPER ALISSON BECKER HEADS IN LATE WINNER AT WESTBROM AS LIVERPOOL STAY IN TOP FOUR HUNT

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker headed a dramatic stoppage-time winner at West Brom to keep Liverpool’s Champions League hopes alive.

Just as the Reds’ top-four chances looked virtually over, the Brazil international glanced in Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner to clinch a 2-1 win.

He was mobbed by his team-mates after his shock goal moved Liverpool to within a point of fourth-placed Chelsea with two Premier League games left.

Mohamed Salah had earlier cancelled out Hal Robson-Kanu’s first top-flight goal for almost four years.

Roberto Firmino hit the post and Sadio Mane had a goal disallowed for offside as relegated Albion gave as good as they got.

Kyle Bartley saw his goal ruled out as the Baggies nearly caused an upset before Alisson’s late heroics.

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LIVERPOOL GOALKEEPER ALISSON BECKER LOSES FATHER IN DIVING ACCIDENT

The father of Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker has passed away after a diving accident near his holiday home in southern Brazil.

According to ESPN, the 57-year-old had been swimming at a dam on his property. Initially, Jose Becker was declared missing around 5 pm on Wednesday and the fire department sent out a team to assist in the search.

The body was recovered around 11.59 pm. According to the police, there was no foul play suspected.

The Brazilian international signed for the Premier League champions back in 2018 and he has been one of the best players at the club since then.

Alisson’s brother Muriel is also a goalkeeper, for Brazilian side Fluminense.

The 28-year-old Liverpool star has had a tough season so far and he has been involved in a few high profile mistakes in the recent weeks.

It remains to be seen whether the Brazilian is given a compassionate leave so that he can be with his family in this time of need.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp lost his mother earlier this season and the German was not allowed to attend her funeral because of the coronavirus restrictions.

Alisson’s former club Internacional tweeted their condolences earlier.

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ALISSON, LIVERPOOL MISERY CONTINUES AS LIVERPOOL LOSE AT LEICESTER.

Alisson suffered another nightmare as Liverpool’s title defence was left hanging by a thread after a late collapse at Leicester.

The goalkeeper gifted Jamie Vardy a game-changing goal as the Foxes scored three times inside a dramatic final 14 minutes to clinch a 3-1 win.

Alisson, fresh from two huge gaffes against Manchester City, aided Liverpool’s late capitulation when he came and missed Youri Tielemans’ long pass and Vardy ran the ball in.

James Maddison had already levelled before Harvey Barnes struck to compound the visitors’ misery.

Mo Salah had given them a second-half lead but Jurgen Klopp’s side are 10 points behind leaders Manchester City – having played two games more – after a third straight defeat.

Vardy also missed two excellent chances when he headed at Alisson and hit the bar in the first half.

It was a stunning turnaround and the Foxes moved into second, six points ahead of Liverpool.

Klopp would have never envisaged such a collapse after a bright start, despite Maddison trying to lob Alisson from inside his own half.

Jordan Henderson’s raking 50-yard pass sent Salah clear of Ricardo Pereira yet the forward failed to get the ball under control as he burst into the area

Vardy lifted the ball over from an angle after Barnes picked him out and Liverpool’s injury worries continued when James Milner was forced off after just 17 minutes, Thiago replacing him.

It failed to dent the visitors’ momentum, though, and they continued to probe with Salah giving Pereira a difficult half.

The Egypt international skipped away and his cross was turned wide by Sadio Mane before Kasper Schmeichel produced a world-class save to deny Roberto Firmino’s header – although Henderson was flagged offside in the build up.

Leicester’s sloppiness with the ball aided their top-four rivals but they should have opened the scoring nine minutes before the break.

Barnes picked out Vardy in the area but, unmarked seven yards out, he headed straight at Alisson.

It was a chance the former England striker would usually take and he missed another golden one soon after.

Debutant Ozan Kabak’s slip allowed Maddison’s impudent flick to send the striker clear but his rising drive hit the bar.

For all their possession, Liverpool could have gone into the break two goals down but started the second half as they did the first, pinning the Foxes back.

Klopp’s side struggled to create clear openings but did come close after 57 minutes.

Pereira brought down Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s 30-yard free kick clipped Vardy in the wall and bounced off the bar.

Leicester’s resolve looked like holding firm, with the returning Wilfred Ndidi quietly efficient, but Liverpool finally broke through after 67 minutes.

Alexander-Arnold found Firmino in the area and his cute turn teed up Salah to curl into the corner from 15 yards.

Liverpool looked on course for victory but collapsed in a frantic final 14 minutes.

First Leicester thought they had a penalty after Thiago brought down Barnes, only for VAR to rule the foul came outside the box.

It mattered little though as Maddison’s low free kick flashed straight in – although it was only given after a VAR check with Daniel Amartey ruled fractionally onside.

Three minutes later Alisson rushed out to Tielemans’ pass but clattered into Kabak instead to leave Vardy with a simple finish.

It got worse for the visitors with five minutes left when Barnes broke free on the left and fired past Alisson.

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HORROR DAY FOR ALLISON BECKER AS CITY THRASH LIVERPOOL AT ANFIELD

Liverpool’s title defence appears to have ended at the feet of goalkeeper Alisson Becker as two awful errors gifted Manchester City a 4-1 victory at Anfield.

With the match evenly-poised at 1-1 with 17 minutes remaining the Brazil international’s errant passing presented the league leaders with two goals – including Raheem Sterling’s first at Anfield since leaving in 2015.

Alisson was back in the team after missing the midweek defeat to Brighton with illness but he will be sick when he watches back his part in City’s first victory on this ground since 2003 and only their second in 34 visits.

Mohamed Salah’s 63rd-minute penalty – ending a home goal drought nine minutes short of seven hours – had cancelled out the opener from Ilkay Gundogan, who redeemed himself after missing from the spot in the first half.

Alisson then scuffed a pass straight to Phil Foden, who drove forward and crossed for Gundogan to make it nine goals in his last 11 league matches.

Worse was to follow as the Brazilian then repeated the error even closer to goal with Bernardo Silva teeing up Sterling to nod home his 100th goal for Pep Guardiola, with Foden adding the finishing touches late on.

Victory extended City’s winning run to 14 matches and left Liverpool 10 points beind having played one match more and even in this season of surprises a comeback from that position seems unlikely.

It meant Gundogan’s penalty miss late in the first half, City’s third this season and their third in four attempts in this fixture – and Guardiola kicking a bucket in frustration were distant memories.

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ALISSON TO MISS TWO WEEKS DUE TO HAMSTRING INJURY.

Alisson Becker will be sidelined for up to two weeks with a hamstring injury with the Brazilian goalkeeper likely to miss games against Wolves, Midtjylland and Fulham.

Alisson felt his hamstring during Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Brighton on Saturday and was replaced by 22-year-old Caoimhin Kelleher for Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Ajax in the Champions League.

Kelleher produced a fine performance, including a crucial reflex save to deny Klaas-Jan Huntelaar as Liverpool booked their place in the knockout rounds.

And manager Jurgen Klopp provided an update on the extent of Alisson’s injury, emphasising it was an injury and not a Covid-19 infection or isolation.

He told BT Sport: ‘So, it’s not Covid, I think it’s something we have to mention when it’s not the case – and it’s not the case.

‘He told us after the last game that he felt in the 60th, 70th minute his hamstring. [We] did a scan, it’s a little one but enough for today and probably for another week.

‘We don’t know exactly, we have to wait and I’ve never heard about a hamstring that is only four or five days, so 10-14 days I think.’

Klopp sprung a surprise by favouring Kelleher, who had only previously made four appearances for the club, all in the FA Cup or EFL Cup, ahead of Adrian.

And after a clean sheet, Klopp was full of praise for the Irishman: ‘I really think Adrian has done a fantastic job for us, he kept a lot of clean sheets, played everywhere.

‘But now we needed the natural football playing ability of Caoimhin Kelleher.

‘He is a great shot-stopper as well. We made that decision but never know how they are going to cope. I am really happy with how calm he was and how good he was.

‘In the end, it is about keeping the ball out of the net and he did that twice and he did that in an exceptional manner. He will either sleep really well tonight or not at all.’

Liverpool host Wolves in the Premier League on Sunday evening and then conclude their Champions League group campaign with a trip to Denmark to play Midtjylland next Wednesday.

They then face three league matches in quick succession against Fulham, Tottenham and Crystal Palace and Klopp may have to choose between Adrian and Kelleher if Alisson doesn’t recover in time.

Alisson is just the latest injury concern for Liverpool, who currently have Trent Alexander-Arnold, Naby Keita, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Xherdan Shaqiri, James Milner, Thiago Alcantara and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sidelined.

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EDERSON TO START AHEAD OF ALLISON FOR BRAZIL IN WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS.

Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson will start Brazil’s World Cup qualifier against Venezuela ahead of Liverpool’s Alisson, while Gabriel Menino has been cut from the squad after testing positive for Covid-19.

Tite picked Weverton as his goalkeeper for the opening two qualifiers against Bolivia and Peru, with Ederson an unused substitute as Alisson missed out due to a shoulder injury.

Alisson returned to the squad for Friday’s meeting with Venezuela and Tuesday’s clash with Uruguay, but it is the Manchester City keeper who has got the nod from Tite.

“We have three great goalkeepers. Weverton played last time and comes in after a good sequence at Palmeiras. He played two very good games,” said Tite.

“I spoke with the three of them personally, together with [goalkeeper coach Claudio] Taffarel. Alisson is an excellent goalkeeper. We have Ederson, who is experiencing a great technical and physical moment.”

Tite also confirmed there will be starts for Allan, Everton Ribeiro and Gabriel Jesus, with Casemiro and Philippe Coutinho not in the squad due to coronavirus and injury respectively. Neymar, meanwhile, is being rested in the hope he can recover from a left leg issue to feature in Uruguay.

The Brazil boss is set to have one fewer option at right-back, however, after Menino was found to have contracted Covid-19, despite testing negative upon his arrival at the Granja Comary base on Monday.

“In the tests carried out yesterday, Gabriel Menino tested positive for Covid-19. All other players in the group tested negative,” Brazil doctor Rodrigo Lasmar explained.

“It is important to note that, on Monday, when the players arrived, all members of the delegation were tested and the results were negative.

“We have already informed the medical department of Palmeiras. The player is asymptomatic, is already isolated and has been cut from the squad.

“All protective measures are being taken. We will perform a new round of tests before our trip to Uruguay, after the game [against Venezuela].”

Menino has played the bulk of the 2020 Campeonato Brasileiro season as a central midfielder and leads Palmeiras in terms of assists (three), duels won (91) and touches (920).

The 20-year-old has made 286 successful passes in the opposition half – the second most among his team-mates – and ranks third at Palmeiras in terms of dribbles completed (22) and tackles (34) this term.

Head coach Tite insisted there is no barrier to Brazil taking the field to face Venezuela and he is unsure whether a replacement for Menino will be drafted in.

Tite said: “The doctor will speed up the other tests. In the meantime there is no problem for us to play. Roughly speaking, the information given to us – for all players and coaching staff – was that.

“These are challenges that all national teams have faced. The selection had a greater number than are actually here, either due to injury or to the Covid-19 problem.

“But opportunities arise. Pedro was called up … but there are also other opportunities for high-level players to come and show themselves.

“The first reaction was to say: ‘Man, what a pity for Gabriel Menino, and we are all at risk.’ The pandemic is not over. That is not an opinion, it is fact. We have to be very careful.”