Gary Neville has tipped Alisson Becker as Liverpool’s Player of the Season, as he believes the shot-stopper is the reason behind the Reds’ turnaround.
Neville, who once fell in hot waters with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp for his criticism of Loris Karius in 2016 believes the goalkeeper has had more impact than Virgil Van Dijk.
The former Manchester United right-back also suggested the Brazilian can be classified in the same category as former Old Trafford greats Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van der Sar, and plays an important role than the former Southampton centre-back.
“I think Allison has made Liverpool win the League,” said Neville. “I think when people talk about van Dijk being the missing piece I think that there is an element of that.
“But, it’s Allison for me.
“When I go back to two years or three years ago, I was very critical of the goalkeepers that were at Liverpool. I said I felt that they would never win the League while the current goalkeeper was in the position.
“Jurgen Klopp came for me, I don’t know whether he was angry with me but he certainly had a go at me in the media.
“But as soon as Allison came – I saw it at Manchester United with Schmeichel then I saw it in that next spell where we had greatness with Van Der Sar.
“Once your goalkeeper is calm, authoritative, saves most shots on his goal, gives confidence to the rest of the team, the impact of that is absolutely incredible.
“For me Van Dijk is one of the best centre halves I have ever seen live but for me, if you’re talking about the last two years; what’s been the big change for me in Liverpool is the goalkeeper.
“They won the European Cup and they won the League. I put van Dijk just behind but Alison for me has been the biggest impact at Liverpool.”
