Revealed: The secrets behind how Alisson won the FA Cup for Liverpool

Alisson marks an anniversary on Monday. It is one year since his injury-time header against West Bromwich Albion laid the foundation for what remains on course to be the most spectacular season in Liverpool’s history.

That goal secured a victory which was vital in taking Liverpool into this season's Champions League, and can now be ranked alongside David Fairclough’s goal against Saint Etienne in 1977 and Steven Gerrard against Olympiakos in 2004 as those which truly redirected the team’s journey.

Yet the Brazilian's influence continues to be felt week on week at Anfield, most recently at Wembley on Saturday when his performance in the FA Cup final penalty shoot-out was pivotal in winning the second of what could still be a clean sweep of four trophies for Liverpool this season.

So, how did Alisson prepare, and how exactly did he get in the mind of Chelsea's penalty takers?

A WhatsApp refresher course

Liverpool goalkeepers are Chelsea’s Kryptonite. First Adrian won Liverpool the Super Cup shoot-out against them in 2019. Then it was Caoimhin Kelleher in this season’s Carabao Cup. Now Alisson can enjoy a lifetime offering his own anecdotes about denying the Londoners.

Success in such circumstances comes from that potent combination of skill, preparation and hints of fortune. Liverpool’s keepers and coaches form their own union at the AXA training ground, the possibility of a penalty shoot-out inevitably part of the pre-match discussion.

“We have a goalie meeting group (on Whatsapp), of course!” revealed John Achterberg, Liverpool's goalkeeping coach. “We have meetings before every game, talking about what the opponents do and what happens in the game. We have Taff (Claudio Taffarel), who helps speaking Portuguese, and Jack Robinson, too. We all work together as goalies to get the best from each other. We discuss everything.”

So were there specific instructions as to which side Mason Mount - Chelsea's seventh penalty taker - might favour with the penalty that produced that wristy push to safety?

“We work on things but in the end Ali makes the final decision,” said Achterberg. “We prepare them for what individual players do, but the credit goes to the keeper.”

As after the Carabao Cup final, generous praise was also afforded the fledgling German company Neuro11, who since last summer have assisted Liverpool’s players with mental strength exercises for dead ball situations. Achterberg said that has had a knock-on effect on the keeper’s penalty-saving skills.

“They have all been practising a lot on penalties this season,” he said. “Obviously the guys from Germany came to work with them specifically, but more and more players have been practising after training and getting confidence. It is a big credit to them all because it is a big pressure to take one. We analyse all these things and there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes.”

Being the 'ball boy' - and other mind games

It is a predictable mind game during penalty shoot-outs. The chosen one strides from the halfway line trying to exude uber-confidence only to be met by a towering goalkeeper bouncing the ball so hard he looks like he is trying to leave an indention in the turf. Then comes the traditional limp-wristed handing over possession while seemingly looking into the soul of their opponent to assess if they have the courage to find the net.

Edouard Mendy was the master of this most subtle dark art during Senegal’s penalty shoot-out wins over Egypt in February’s African Cup of Nations and March’s World Cup qualifier, positioning himself directly in the eyeline of every approaching opposition penalty-taker. At Wembley he was unable to repeat the trick, his ambitions thwarted by the formidable obstacle of Alisson.

Rather than face a one-man welcoming committee of the intimidating Chelsea keeper, Liverpool’s players were always met by the reassuring figure of their number 1.

Alisson was able to do this because each time a Chelsea kicker found the net or, as was the case with the unfortunate Cesar Azpilicueta and Mount, held their head in hands, he became the ball boy. It all seemed studiously premeditated, ensuring Mendy offered no interference. It may explain why only Sadio Mane - who has practised spot kicks so often against his international team-mate - was spooked by Mendy’s presence.

That was not the only trick, however. Alisson attempted to unsettle Ross Barkley by walking up to him to hand him the ball personally before his penalty.

He then clapped loudly several times in the moments before he struck his kick - to no avail, on this occasion.

Earlier, he had also tried to get into the head of Marcos Alonso by delaying the taking of the penalty, forcing referee Craig Pawson to intervene.

Erecting a psychological barrier

It is not outlandish to think that Chelsea's players may already have been deflated in their hopes of beating Alisson from the spot given how well he had played in the previous two hours.

His record in one-on-one situations, in particular, is remarkable. He saved at the feet of Marcus Alonso in the first half, and Christian Pulisic shortly after half-time, continuing his habit of making the exceptional seem routine. There is a hint of Peter Schmeichel about Alisson in that his stature and reputation must be off-putting for even the most potent finishers when they see him dashing from goal.

“That’s true. He is a big presence,” said Achterberg. “Everyone knows what Chelsea do and we talked about the one-v-ones because we know how they like to put balls in behind.

“Ali can change his speed in a split second. He has such great reactions, but it is all about his decision-making. He is an amazing all-round package. In each department he is either good or the top. That is credit to him.

“He is always ‘on it’ in training. That is what you need - the best every day - and that is how you get to the top because the moment you do not show your effort the quality goes down. It is that consistent drive, making yourself challenges to be better than the other goalies and making more clean sheets. That is what you do. He is like that.

“We all try to help him, but he is the one who produces every day. He is really calm and clear in his mind. Nothing fazes him.”

There was a final save by Alisson so casual it was barely noticed. Watch again as Mount’s shot rebounded off the keeper with such heavy top spin it may actually have still found the net. Instead, Alisson nonchalantly grabbed the ball.

“Outstanding. Awesome,” continued Achterberg. “There were a lot of man-of-the match performances but he was one of them. He made vital saves and then there was the way he was coming for the crosses. And then making the save from the penalty to carry us through. An unbelievable performance.”

Yet just like the Wembley revelry against Chelsea in February, the real party is on hold for another few weeks, at which point Alisson’s keen musicianship may form part of the celebrations.

“I’m not sure if he will be on the guitar tonight,” smiled Achterberg. “You can only celebrate until we start again [against Southampton] on Tuesday.”