Liverpool play Arsenal on Sunday and ahead of the match David Raya has been piling praise on his opposite number Alisson Becker
Liverpool may have left Arsenal trailing in their wake as they stormed to the Premier League title. But that has not stopped one Gunners star from showering lavish praise on his Reds counterpart.
Liverpool were crowned champions last month after they won 5-1 at home to Tottenham Hotspur to open up a 15-point lead over second-placed Arsenal with four fixtures to play.
The Reds were unable to extend that advantage to 18 points on Sunday when they lost 3-1 at Chelsea 24 hours after the Gunners went down 2-1 at home to Bournemouth.
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But they will have the chance to do so again this weekend when Arne Slot’s side welcome Mikel Arteta’s men to Anfield (4.30pm kick-off) for which at one stage of the season seemed set to be a title decider.
And ahead of the big match Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has been paying tribute to Liverpool No.1 Alisson Becker.
Injuries have restricted Alisson to playing in just 32 of the Reds’ 53 games so far this season.
But, when fit, the Brazilian international has once more proved why he remains, for many people, the best keeper in the world.
That’s an argument that Raya goes along with.
Speaking with former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster on Amazon Prime, the Spain international was asked to name the best in the world in his position.
And Raya said: “Alisson. Obviously Alisson, (Thibaut) Courtois (of Real Madrid). I really, really like (Gregor) Kobel from Borussia (Dortmund).
“I think Alisson is just…the one vs ones, he saves everything. I don’t know how he does it, he saves every single one on one.”
The 32-year-old has kept nine Premier League clean sheets this season but the battle for the Golden Glove now seems set to be a battle between Raya, who has 12, and Nottingham Forest’s Matz Sels, who leads the way with 13.
Foster asked Raya if he learns from Alisson and he said: “Of course, you have to have an open mind just to see how can he be so good in one vs ones, what he does.
“And it’s weird because he’s always so close to the ball, when sometimes you don’t have that time to get close to the ball, and you have to be set and react.
“He reads those situations so well where maybe he’s (an opponent) made the pass or he’s driving with the ball and then the last touch is a bit heavy. So he’s on top there.
“The way he reads things is incredible in those situations. He’s been one of the top goalkeepers in the world for so many years and the quality he has, the experience.
“That’s those things that gives you that extra edge to make one vs one saves.”
