Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hailed the contribution of substitute goalkeeper Adrian to a “special win” after the Reds beat Brighton and Hove Albion 2-1 despite the dismissal of Alisson Becker in the second half.
Dutch center back Virgil van Dijk put the Premier League’s runaway leaders on course for a routine victory on Saturday with two towering headers, but Liverpool ended having to hang on at Anfield after goalkeeper Alisson was sent off in the 76th minute for handling the ball outside his penalty area.
Adrian was brought on to replace Alex Oxlade Chamberlain in the substitution and got caught out from the resulting free-kick as Lewis Dunk stroked the ball into the net while the Spanish keeper was out of position and still setting up his wall.
However, the home team still claimed three points against the Seagulls, equalling their record unbeaten top-flight run in the process, as Adrian produced a save from Aaron Mooy and then avoided embarrassment by regathering the ball after Pascal Gross’ header had been squirted out of his grasp.
However, Klopp explained that the Man of the Match would go to Virgil Van Dijk because of his two goals but in his personal opinion Adrian deserved it more due to the situation, “I’m pretty sure Virgil, of course, with the two goals is probably man of the match, but Adrian is for me man of the match, Because coming in, in a game like this, and making two saves. One was tricky. And even the goalie kicks, of course, are difficult and anybody whoever did that with completely cold feet, it’s just not possible. We should have probably done that differently but we were not prepared for that situation, so I am completely happy.”
