EPL: ‘It’s the hand of God’

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker (third from left) heads to score the match-winning goal for his team during an English Premier League encounter against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns Stadium in West Bromwich on Sunday. Pic/AFP

Goalkeeper Alisson Becker's dramatic 95th-minute goal gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday to maintain their bid to play in next season's Champions League.

Tottenham were more comfortable 2-0 winners over Wolves to move into pole position for a place in the Europa League, but Everton's hopes of European football were dealt a massive blow by Sheffield United's shock 1-0 victory at Goodison Park.

Alisson's perfectly executed header keeps Liverpool's top-four fate in their own hands despite sitting fifth in the table. Jurgen Klopp's men trail fourth-placed Chelsea by one point and Leicester by three, with two league games left to play.

Top 4 spot assured

But with Leicester and Chelsea still to face off in a repeat of the FA Cup final, which the Foxes won 1-0 on Saturday, victories over Burnley and Crystal Palace will take Liverpool into the top four. The already-relegated Baggies took an early lead through Hal Robson-Kanu before the in-form Mohamed Salah equalised before half-time.

Liverpool players hug their goalie Alisson Becker after his winner. Pic/AFP

But Liverpool were still heading for a damaging draw when Alisson headed in from a corner in the fifth minute of stoppage-time. The Brazilian's father died in February when he drowned in a swimming accident. Alisson could not even return home for the funeral at the time due to quarantine rules on foreign travel and was visibly emotional at full-time.

‘Wish my father was here'

"I played since I remember as a human being with my father. I wish he was here to see it but I'm sure that he's seeing with God on his side and
celebrating," said Alisson.

"You can't explain a lot of things in life. For me, the only reason for those kind of things is God and he put his hand on my head today and I'm feeling really blessed," he added.

Liverpool were stunned when Robson-Kanu put the hosts ahead in the 15th minute after he ran onto Matheus Pereira's pass and found the bottom corner at The Hawthorns. Liverpool levelled when Sadio Mane intercepted a loose pass to Kyle Bartley, with the ball falling to Salah, who hit a first-time shot into the bottom left corner.

Top three significant goals scored by goalkeepers

Rene Higuita
Nacional vs River Plate, Copa Libertadores semi-final 1st leg, Aug 9, 1995

He scored the only goal of the match off a free kick that beat the wall and entered the goal. He scored in the 2nd leg too, converting the first kick in a shootout.

Jose Luis Chilavert
Paraguay vs Argentina, World Cup qualifying, Sept 1, 1996

A rasping low drive saw Paraguay hold Argentina to take second-place in the South American World Cup group and earn a first qualification in 12 years.

Jimmy Glass
Carlisle v Plymouth, English third division, May 8, 1999

On the last day of the season, with the scores level and his team needing a win to stay in the League, he volleyed home off a corner in stoppage time.

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