Liverpool’s goalkeeper coach said winning the Champions League was “f**king great” for Alisson Becker a year on from Loris Karius’s disastrous night in Kiev.
Karius made two glaring errors 12 months ago as Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Real Madrid in the 2017-18 final, and was replaced by Alisson over the summer transfer window in a £66m move from Roma.
Alisson has been exceptional, playing a crucial part in Liverpool’s second-place finish in the Premier League while making several saves to ensure they kept a clean sheet in Saturday night’s Champions League final.
“That’s football,” said John Achterberg, Liverpool’s Dutch goalkeeping coach, in the wake of their triumph in Madrid, when asked to reflect on the contrasting emotions of the two. “It’s tough for the one and f**king great for the other, it’s true.”
Achterberg believes Alisson is now one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
1/100 Champions League final
The story of Liverpool’s Champions League victory
Getty
2/100 Champions League final
The ultimate prize in European football sits pitchside before kick-off
AFP/Getty Images
3/100 Champions League final
Liverpool fans before kick-off
EPA
4/100 Champions League final
Tottenham supporters makes themselves heard
AP
5/100 Champions League final
Steven Gerrard on punditry duty
REUTERS
6/100 Champions League final
Mohamed Salah warms up on the pitch
AFP/Getty Images
7/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane is a surprise inclusion from the start, having not played since the quarter-finals nearly two months ago
Getty Images
8/100 Champions League final
The Spurs players limber up ahead of the game
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
9/100 Champions League final
Spurs fans begin to fill their end of the stadium
Getty Images
10/100 Champions League final
Liverpool fans in full voice at the other end
EPA
11/100 Champions League final
The pre-match show lights up the Madrid evening
PA
12/100 Champions League final
Imagine Dragons take centre stage
Getty Images
13/100 Champions League final
The players emerge for kick-off
Getty Images
14/100 Champions League final
A minute’s applause for the former Arsenal footballer Jose Antonio Reyes, who died on Friday in a road traffic accident
AFP/Getty Images
15/100 Champions League final
Spurs players embrace each other one last time
AFP/Getty Images
16/100 Champions League final
Liverpool get the game under way…
REUTERS
17/100 Champions League final
… and 26 seconds later, they have a penalty when Moussa Sissoko is adjudged to have handled the ball
REUTERS
18/100 Champions League final
Referee Damir Skomina checks with VAR but the decision stands
Getty Images
19/100 Champions League final
EPA
20/100 Champions League final
Mohamed Salah steps up for Liverpool
Getty Images
21/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
22/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
23/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
24/100 Champions League final
The Egyptian drives the ball down the middle as Hugo Lloris dives to his left
Getty Images
25/100 Champions League final
Salah celebrates opening the scoring with the second fastest goal in Champions League final history
EPA
26/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
27/100 Champions League final
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have it all to do
REUTERS
28/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane takes a clattering from Joel Matip
EPA
29/100 Champions League final
Kane is down, but he recovers quickly
Getty Images
30/100 Champions League final
A pitch invader briefly halts the action
Getty Images
31/100 Champions League final
Virgil van Dijk directs the Liverpool defence
PA
32/100 Champions League final
Toby Alderweireld battles with Salah as the game ambles towards half-time
Getty Images
33/100 Champions League final
The sun sets on the Wanda Metropolitano
Getty Images
34/100 Champions League final
Half-time: Tottenham 0-1 Liverpool
AP
35/100 Champions League final
Liverpool fans enjoyed the first half
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
36/100 Champions League final
A smiling Jurgen Klopp looks on from the touchline
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
37/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane looks a little frustrated after struggling to make an impact
PA
38/100 Champions League final
Son Heung-min and Trend Alexander-Arnold fight for the ball at the start of the second half
REUTERS
39/100 Champions League final
Mohamed Salah looks to the sky
EPA
40/100 Champions League final
Roberto Firmino and Jan Vertonghen vie for the ball
PA
41/100 Champions League final
Kane and Joel Matip tussle
REUTERS
42/100 Champions League final
The match from above
Getty Images
43/100 Champions League final
The Liverpool forwards in discussion, as they struggle to make any headway since the early goal
EPA
44/100 Champions League final
The Tottenham fans try to lift their team
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
45/100 Champions League final
Mo Salah in full flow
REUTERS
46/100 Champions League final
James Milner replaces Georginio Wijnaldum
REUTERS
47/100 Champions League final
Harry Winks shakes hands with his manager after being replaced by Lucas Moura
Getty Images
48/100 Champions League final
Trent Alexander-Arnold controls with his chest
Getty Images
49/100 Champions League final
Alisson claws the ball away from his area as the Spurs pressure builds
EPA
50/100 Champions League final
Tottenham fans watch on anxiously as the clock ticks down
Getty Images
51/100 Champions League final
Divock Origi shoots into the far corner
REUTERS
52/100 Champions League final
PA
53/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
54/100 Champions League final
And spins away to celebrate Liverpool’s second goal
Getty Images
55/100 Champions League final
Origi celebrates in front of elated Liverpool fans
AP
56/100 Champions League final
Hugo Lloris reacts after Origi’s strike
REUTERS
57/100 Champions League final
Alisson points to the sky
REUTERS
58/100 Champions League final
The Liverpool bunch erupts
REUTERS
59/100 Champions League final
AP
60/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
61/100 Champions League final
Liverpool players mob Origi
REUTERS
62/100 Champions League final
AP
63/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
64/100 Champions League final
Full-time: Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool
Getty Images
65/100 Champions League final
The Tottenham players react at the final whistle
REUTERS
66/100 Champions League final
Liverpool celebrate their triumph
REUTERS
67/100 Champions League final
Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp shake hands
AFP/Getty Images
68/100 Champions League final
EPA
69/100 Champions League final
The Liverpool plans react at the end of the game
AP
70/100 Champions League final
PA
71/100 Champions League final
Jubilation for Liverpool the pitch
REUTERS
72/100 Champions League final
Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates
AP
73/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane looks dejected after the result
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
74/100 Champions League final
Trent Alexander-Arnold lets out a roar
Getty Images
75/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
76/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
77/100 Champions League final
Jordan Henderson raises the Champions League trophy
REUTERS
78/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
79/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
80/100 Champions League final
EPA
81/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
82/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
83/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
84/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
85/100 Champions League final
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
86/100 Champions League final
AP
87/100 Champions League final
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
88/100 Champions League final
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
89/100 Champions League final
AP
90/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
91/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
92/100 Champions League final
AP
93/100 Champions League final
Alberto Moreno lifts the trophy wearing a t-shirt dedicated to Jose Antonio Reyes
AFP/Getty Images
94/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
95/100 Champions League final
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
96/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
97/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
98/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
99/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
100/100 Champions League final
AP
1/100 Champions League final
The story of Liverpool’s Champions League victory
Getty
2/100 Champions League final
The ultimate prize in European football sits pitchside before kick-off
AFP/Getty Images
3/100 Champions League final
Liverpool fans before kick-off
EPA
4/100 Champions League final
Tottenham supporters makes themselves heard
AP
5/100 Champions League final
Steven Gerrard on punditry duty
REUTERS
6/100 Champions League final
Mohamed Salah warms up on the pitch
AFP/Getty Images
7/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane is a surprise inclusion from the start, having not played since the quarter-finals nearly two months ago
Getty Images
8/100 Champions League final
The Spurs players limber up ahead of the game
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
9/100 Champions League final
Spurs fans begin to fill their end of the stadium
Getty Images
10/100 Champions League final
Liverpool fans in full voice at the other end
EPA
11/100 Champions League final
The pre-match show lights up the Madrid evening
PA
12/100 Champions League final
Imagine Dragons take centre stage
Getty Images
13/100 Champions League final
The players emerge for kick-off
Getty Images
14/100 Champions League final
A minute’s applause for the former Arsenal footballer Jose Antonio Reyes, who died on Friday in a road traffic accident
AFP/Getty Images
15/100 Champions League final
Spurs players embrace each other one last time
AFP/Getty Images
16/100 Champions League final
Liverpool get the game under way…
REUTERS
17/100 Champions League final
… and 26 seconds later, they have a penalty when Moussa Sissoko is adjudged to have handled the ball
REUTERS
18/100 Champions League final
Referee Damir Skomina checks with VAR but the decision stands
Getty Images
19/100 Champions League final
EPA
20/100 Champions League final
Mohamed Salah steps up for Liverpool
Getty Images
21/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
22/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
23/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
24/100 Champions League final
The Egyptian drives the ball down the middle as Hugo Lloris dives to his left
Getty Images
25/100 Champions League final
Salah celebrates opening the scoring with the second fastest goal in Champions League final history
EPA
26/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
27/100 Champions League final
Mauricio Pochettino’s side have it all to do
REUTERS
28/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane takes a clattering from Joel Matip
EPA
29/100 Champions League final
Kane is down, but he recovers quickly
Getty Images
30/100 Champions League final
A pitch invader briefly halts the action
Getty Images
31/100 Champions League final
Virgil van Dijk directs the Liverpool defence
PA
32/100 Champions League final
Toby Alderweireld battles with Salah as the game ambles towards half-time
Getty Images
33/100 Champions League final
The sun sets on the Wanda Metropolitano
Getty Images
34/100 Champions League final
Half-time: Tottenham 0-1 Liverpool
AP
35/100 Champions League final
Liverpool fans enjoyed the first half
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
36/100 Champions League final
A smiling Jurgen Klopp looks on from the touchline
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
37/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane looks a little frustrated after struggling to make an impact
PA
38/100 Champions League final
Son Heung-min and Trend Alexander-Arnold fight for the ball at the start of the second half
REUTERS
39/100 Champions League final
Mohamed Salah looks to the sky
EPA
40/100 Champions League final
Roberto Firmino and Jan Vertonghen vie for the ball
PA
41/100 Champions League final
Kane and Joel Matip tussle
REUTERS
42/100 Champions League final
The match from above
Getty Images
43/100 Champions League final
The Liverpool forwards in discussion, as they struggle to make any headway since the early goal
EPA
44/100 Champions League final
The Tottenham fans try to lift their team
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
45/100 Champions League final
Mo Salah in full flow
REUTERS
46/100 Champions League final
James Milner replaces Georginio Wijnaldum
REUTERS
47/100 Champions League final
Harry Winks shakes hands with his manager after being replaced by Lucas Moura
Getty Images
48/100 Champions League final
Trent Alexander-Arnold controls with his chest
Getty Images
49/100 Champions League final
Alisson claws the ball away from his area as the Spurs pressure builds
EPA
50/100 Champions League final
Tottenham fans watch on anxiously as the clock ticks down
Getty Images
51/100 Champions League final
Divock Origi shoots into the far corner
REUTERS
52/100 Champions League final
PA
53/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
54/100 Champions League final
And spins away to celebrate Liverpool’s second goal
Getty Images
55/100 Champions League final
Origi celebrates in front of elated Liverpool fans
AP
56/100 Champions League final
Hugo Lloris reacts after Origi’s strike
REUTERS
57/100 Champions League final
Alisson points to the sky
REUTERS
58/100 Champions League final
The Liverpool bunch erupts
REUTERS
59/100 Champions League final
AP
60/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
61/100 Champions League final
Liverpool players mob Origi
REUTERS
62/100 Champions League final
AP
63/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
64/100 Champions League final
Full-time: Tottenham 0-2 Liverpool
Getty Images
65/100 Champions League final
The Tottenham players react at the final whistle
REUTERS
66/100 Champions League final
Liverpool celebrate their triumph
REUTERS
67/100 Champions League final
Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp shake hands
AFP/Getty Images
68/100 Champions League final
EPA
69/100 Champions League final
The Liverpool plans react at the end of the game
AP
70/100 Champions League final
PA
71/100 Champions League final
Jubilation for Liverpool the pitch
REUTERS
72/100 Champions League final
Georginio Wijnaldum celebrates
AP
73/100 Champions League final
Harry Kane looks dejected after the result
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
74/100 Champions League final
Trent Alexander-Arnold lets out a roar
Getty Images
75/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
76/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
77/100 Champions League final
Jordan Henderson raises the Champions League trophy
REUTERS
78/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
79/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
80/100 Champions League final
EPA
81/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
82/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
83/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
84/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
85/100 Champions League final
Liverpool FC via Getty Images
86/100 Champions League final
AP
87/100 Champions League final
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
88/100 Champions League final
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
89/100 Champions League final
AP
90/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
91/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
92/100 Champions League final
AP
93/100 Champions League final
Alberto Moreno lifts the trophy wearing a t-shirt dedicated to Jose Antonio Reyes
AFP/Getty Images
94/100 Champions League final
Getty Images
95/100 Champions League final
Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I
96/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
97/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
98/100 Champions League final
AFP/Getty Images
99/100 Champions League final
REUTERS
100/100 Champions League final
AP
“There are always things he can improve but the level he has produced this season is probably one of the best in the world. He showed it today. He needs to keep driving this to make sure he gets the recognition from everyone. He has had an amazing season to break the record for clean sheets. What can you say?
“We bought an expensive goalie but he paid it back with the trophy, he had a big hand in it any way. But the whole team worked their balls off the whole season overall.”
