Sky pundits criticise Alisson display in Liverpool v City | OneFootball

Alisson Criticised After City Loss

Liverpool’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City at Anfield will linger, not for prolonged City dominance, but for a single moment that shifted the emotional weight of the contest. A game drifting towards a hard earned point instead swung on a decision that invited fierce scrutiny, particularly from Roy Keane.

Arne Slot’s side had worked diligently to gain control. When Dominik Szoboszlai curled home a 74th minute free kick, Anfield sensed a statement victory. Liverpool’s structure had frustrated City for long spells, limiting clear chances and protecting Alisson for much of the evening.

That control, however, dissolved in a chaotic finale.

Turning Point at Anfield

Bernardo Silva’s equaliser arrived seven minutes after Liverpool’s opener, a reminder of City’s capacity to punish even brief lapses. Yet parity still felt a fair reflection of the contest entering stoppage time.

Then came the decisive incident.

Matheus Nunes chased a loose ball that posed minimal danger. Alisson, reading the situation aggressively, rushed from his line and brought the midfielder down. Referee Craig Pawson pointed to the spot. Erling Haaland converted, sealing a 2-1 win that felt gifted rather than engineered.

For a goalkeeper of Alisson’s stature, the error jarred.

Jamie Carragher summed up the disbelief on Sky Sports: “You cannot believe a goalkeeper of that quality makes that decision there. It’s not like you’re going to be able to cross the ball, it’s too far ahead of him. All he can actually do there is knock it out for a goal kick and he’s just made a crazy decision.

Photo: IMAGO

“We see goalkeepers make this mistake. It’s just madness finding himself make that decision. He doesn’t make too many, what a goalkeeper he has been but obviously it was a huge decision.”

Roy Keane’s Blunt Assessment

Roy Keane’s reaction carried the familiar sharpness that has defined his punditry. The former Manchester United captain framed the mistake through psychology as much as technique.

“I think it’s one of them with the goalkeeper sometimes. I know he’s an experienced goalkeeper. It’s almost [like] they get bored sometimes, even in a big game. You said to keepers sometimes mind your own business.

“That had almost nothing to do with him. He almost looked for trouble. A crazy decision for an experienced goalkeeper. If a young goalkeeper said that, you’d say, all right, lack of experience, whatever, and naive. To do that… just slow himself down.”

Keane’s words cut to the heart of the moment, suggesting the Liverpool goalkeeper manufactured risk where none truly existed.

Context Around Alisson’s Influence

Moments like this stand out precisely because of Alisson’s excellence. Since arriving from Roma in 2018, he has been central to Liverpool’s modern success, a goalkeeper defined by authority, composure, and match saving interventions.

Against City, he had little to do before the late drama, facing only three shots on target prior to Silva’s goal. His evening had been quiet, controlled, almost procedural.

That made the late intervention feel even more jarring.

Liverpool’s defeat will not be defined solely by Alisson’s misjudgement, yet pivotal errors shape elite matches. In games of such narrow margins, decision making carries amplified consequence.

For Slot’s Liverpool, the lesson is harsh but clear, control must extend to the final whistle.