Liverpool's Klopp praises 'world-class' Alisson after Everton draw

London, June 22

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Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp hailed his “world class” goalkeeper Alisson after the Brazilian produced a superb late save in the 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday.

With 10 minutes left Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s clever flick from a low Gylfi Sigurdsson cross was pushed out by Alisson and Tom Davies’ follow-up shot hit the post.

“That’s what a world-class goalkeeper is, nothing to do for 90 minutes pretty much and then in one second you have to be there and he was there,” Klopp told reporters. “It obviously saved us a point — it wasn’t the first one.”

“… Outstanding. A difficult goalkeeper game.”

Liverpool need five more points to be sure of their first title of the Premier League era. They face Crystal Palace on Wednesday.

Klopp said defender Andy Robertson, who was left out of the squad against Everton due to a minor knock, would be involved. Liverpool will also assess James Milner and Joel Matip after the pair sustained injuries against Everton.

Man Utd’s De Gea must go back to basics: Neville

Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea must go back to basics to boost his confidence and reverse his disappointing run of form, former captain Gary Neville has said.

De Gea deflected Steven Bergwijn’s shot into his own net in a 1-1 Premier League draw with Tottenham Hotspur on Friday and the Spaniard was lambasted by another United captain, Roy Keane, who said he was “sick to death” of the goalkeeper.

United manager Solskjaer Ole Gunnar Solskjaer defended De Gea after Keane’s comments, though he has also recently tipped academy product Dean Henderson to become first choice for club and country.

It was the seventh error leading to a goal that De Gea had committed since the start of last season, the joint-highest alongside Newcastle United’s Martin Dubravka, Everton’s Jordan Pickford and Arsenal’s Bernd Leno, according to Premier League statistics.

“He’s got to go back to basics … He was the one player United could rely upon for the last four years but he’s not the same,” Neville said on his podcast.

“When form drops for six months it’s a blip but when it goes on for a year you start to worry. When it goes over two years it becomes more permanent.”

United, who are fifth on 46 points, face Sheffield United, two points and places below them, on Wednesday.

Man City will be fighting for title next season: Guardiola

Manager Pep Guardiola says Manchester City “have ideas” for improving the side in the transfer market and will be ready to halt Liverpool’s bid for back-to-back Premier League titles.

Liverpool need five points to be sure of their first English league crown in three decades and dethrone City, who have won the title in the last two seasons.

“Liverpool will remain the strong team they are but when we retained the title we were the first to do it for 10 years, so you know how difficult it is to do that,” Guardiola was quoted as saying by the BBC.

“Out of the last nine (domestic) trophies we’ve fought for, we’ve won eight. That is not bad and I think next season we’ll do it again.”

“There’s not been much wrong with what we’ve done in terms of points and performances. We have ideas for the transfer market, then next season we will prepare to fight again.”

City take on Burnley later on Monday and defeat for Guardiola’s side would mean Liverpool can seal the title with a win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday. — Reuters