Alisson named ‘annoying’ player as his toughest opponent and it’s not who Liverpool fans would expect

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson surprised many when he overlooked stars like Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, and Sergio Aguero in naming the toughest opponent he has faced in the Premier League. Instead, the Brazilian shot-stopper singled out West Ham’s Michail Antonio as the most challenging player he has encountered.

Since his record-breaking £67 million move from Roma to Liverpool in 2018, Alisson has firmly established himself among the world’s elite goalkeepers. His contributions were pivotal in helping the Reds end their 30-year wait for a league title in 2020, and under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot, he has continued to be a vital presence.

Slot, who has spoken highly of Alisson’s abilities, praised him once again after his stunning nine-save performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16. The Liverpool boss lauded his number one, stating, “I have had some very good players as a manager but never the best goalkeeper in the world until now. He showed that he is the best in the world today. To go away with a win here was probably a bit more than we deserved.”

Over six years at Anfield, Alisson has faced some of the Premier League’s most lethal forwards, but he admitted that Antonio presents a unique challenge. Speaking to the PFA in 2023, he explained, “I would say, one that is really annoying is Michail Antonio. The guy is too strong. Set-pieces are hard against him. [He is] always on my toes.”

Antonio, however, has been more reserved in his praise of Alisson’s legacy. On *The Footballers’ Football Podcast*, the West Ham striker acknowledged Alisson’s quality but questioned whether he had done enough to be considered the best goalkeeper in Premier League history. “I think it’s gone a bit too far as in best keeper ever in the Premier League. Obviously, yeah, he’s a good playmaking goalkeeper but so is Ederson. To say the best ever in the Premier League, I think it’s a bit of a stretch. Schmeichel, Van der Sar, Petr Cech. I just don’t feel he has done enough yet.”  

Alisson and Antonio have clashed multiple times over the years, and their mutual respect is evident. Whether or not Alisson ultimately cements his place as the greatest Premier League goalkeeper remains a matter of debate, but his influence on Liverpool’s success is undeniable.