Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Everyone knows Alisson as one of the best goalkeepers in the world - and this ridiculous set of statistics proves just how important he is to Liverpool.
Since joining Anfield in 2018, the Brazilian has been one of the key figures in transforming Liverpool into modern European heavyweights.
However, now that the Reds have fallen from the heights of recent years, Alisson's importance is even more emphasized.
The expected target (xG) is not always statistically reliable, but when applied to a large sample size, it can reveal some definitive truths about a group's performance. This season, Alisson has featured in all 26 of Liverpool's Premier League appearances.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils have conceded 29 goals - the fifth best defensive record in the league.
LIVERPOOL, UK - Tuesday, March 8, 2022:
Liverpool supporters on the Spion Kop pitch with banners of Roger Hunt and goalkeeper Alisson Becker before the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Liverpool FC and FC Internazionale Milano at Anfield. Liverpool won the match 2-1 after a 0-1 defeat. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
That number is only 29, thanks in large part to Alisson's genius. Using FBref, we can see that, excluding own goals, Liverpool are actually expected to concede 37.2 times so far this season.
In fact, excluding own goals, the Red Devils only conceded 27 goals.
That means Alisson's scoring quality has saved Liverpool just over 10 goals conceded this campaign.
That makes him the best goalkeeper in the league by that metric. In fact, on average this season, goalkeepers have conceded one more goal than xG (PSxG) predicted after a shot. xG after the shot is the ratio of expected goals minus actual goals conceded.
The most successful goalkeepers in the Premier League (PSxG)
LIVERPOOL, UK - Tuesday, February 21, 2023:
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson celebrates scoring his first Liverpool goal during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alisson's total of 10.2 'saves' for Liverpool is double that of the second best in the league - Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga have scored 5.1 combined for Chelsea.
Only six other clubs have xG ratios after positive shots, which are Fulham (+4.4), Everton (+3.4), Brentford (+2,6), Newcastle (+2,3), West Ham (+1,3) and Arsenal (+1,3).
Meanwhile, Tottenham (-3.3), Man United (-3.8) and Man City (-4.1) have all conceded more than the quality of the shots they face. The worst-performing goalkeeper in the Premier League is, perhaps unsurprisingly, Southampton's Gavin Bazanu, who has a post-shot xG ratio of -12.1.
SOUTHAMPTON, UK - Tuesday, May 17, 2022:
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker makes a save from Southampton's Armando Broja during the FA Premier League match between Southampton FC and Liverpool FC at St Mary's Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
If you remove Alisson's outstanding form for Liverpool - saving him 0.39 PSxG per game - and replace him with a statistically average goalkeeper in the league, Liverpool will score 40 goals won this season.
That would be the league's 13th worst record and, of course, Liverpool would have to sit lower in the table.
He has won everything it takes to win with Liverpool, and has been there with the best goalkeepers to have ever played for the team.
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