Liverpool boast one of the best goalkeepers in the world in Alisson Becker, never mind just the Premier League. But before the Brazilian’s Anfield arrival in 2018, the Reds had rarely been able to call upon such quality between the sticks.
Pepe Reina had rivalled the likes of Petr Cech and Edwin van der Sar as the English top-flight’s finest following his own arrival on Merseyside in the summer of 2005, winning the Golden Glove award three years in a row in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08. However, his form faltered along with Liverpool ’s during the final years of his eight-season stint as first-choice for the Reds.
From the club’s other long-term Premier League number ones, David James, Sander Westerveld, Jerzy Dudek and Simon Mignolet all enjoyed moments of quality but suffered from inconsistency, with such a trait ultimately costing them starting status at Anfield. As a result, the role of Liverpool goalkeeper has been something of a problem position for manager after manager during the majority of the Reds’ 30-year wait to be crowned champions of England.
