‘What can you say, another goalkeeping error’: Steve McManaman stunned as Real Madrid’s Thibaut Courtois and Liverpool’s Alisson gift goals in first half of their Champions League last-16 tie
Steve McManaman was left stunned after rare mistakes from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Liverpool counterpart Alisson Becker during the first half of their their Champions League last-16 tie.
Courtois miscontrolled a loose ball with the ball deflecting off his knee into the path of Mohamed Salah, with the Egyptian reacting impressively to find the net.
Salah’s effort gave Liverpool a 2-0 advantage following Darwin Nunez opener, before Vinicius Junior reduced the deficit.
BT Sport co-commentator McManaman drew the comparison between Courtois’ man-of-the-match display as Real Madrid beat Liverpool in last year’s Champions League final to his shock error at Anfield.
McManaman also praised the quick reactions of Salah, who became Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer in Europe with 42 goals.
Thibaut Courtois miscontrolled the ball to gift Mohamed Salah Liverpool’s second goal
‘From man of the match in the Champions League final to a huge error tonight from Courtois,’ McManaman said.
‘You just have to touch it and clear your lines, it bounces off his knee.
‘Fair play to Mo Salah, he is the one thinking, what happens if. That’s why would get your rewards. It bobbles off his knee and it is a brilliant finish with his left foot.
‘Mo Salah has overtaken our own Steven Gerrard in the charts. What a servant he has been Mo.
‘What a brilliant finish, gambling on the goalkeeper making a mistake.’
Real Madrid levelled in equally bizarre fashion, as Alisson’s clearance stuck Vinicius and looped into the net.
‘Well, what can you say, another goalkeeping error. As simple as that,’ McManaman said.
‘Allison Becker is just trying to play it out and gets it all wrong. Again, fair play to the forward, carrying on. It cannons off him into the net.
‘The pass was never on.’
Gerrard, speaking on BT Sport, suggested the Liverpool goalkeeper would be regretting his attempted pass rather than taking a safer option.
‘I feel for him because he has been Liverpool’s best player all season,’ Gerrard said.
Vinicius Junior levelled the tie after an error from Liverpool goalkeeper Allison Becker
Allison’s pass struck the Brazilian winger before looping back into the Liverpool goal
‘He will be regretting not just emptying it to the left side of the pitch. He could take a touch and come onto the first foot. It has been very similar in the first half, a lot of quality and two individual mistakes.’
Gerrard’s fellow pundit Rio Ferdinand claimed both errors could be linked to a desire from teams to play out from the back.
‘This is part of modern day football now, it is risk and reward,’ Ferdinand said.
‘In our day that would have been launched up the pitch and you would rejig your system. Nowadays when you want to pass, things like that are going to happen.’
