It was Mohamed Salah's name that went on the score sheet in the <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/liverpool-outclass-manchester-united-to-make-premier-league-title-seem-inevitable-1.966547">final minute of Liverpool's pulsating Premier League victory</a> over Manchester United. But it was goalkeeper Alisson who stole the show with a double act that will last long in the memory of Liverpool fans. The Brazilian has received plaudits aplenty for his raking 70-yard pass that sent Salah clear before he slotted home under the body of David de Gea. And he then added to the moment by showing his own turn of pace as he sprinted the length of the pitch, outrunning his teammates to be the first on the scene to celebrate with the Egyptian in front of the home fans amid delirious scenes. Alisson became only the second goalkeeper this season to record an assist in the Premier League - the first being Bournemouth's Aaron Ramsdale against Southampton in September when his long punt set up Callum Wilson. Goalkeeping assists in the Premier League have been a rarity in recent years, with only two in the previous campaign, by Huddersfield's Jonas Lossl and Manchester City's Ederson. The statistical-minded were quick to point out that Alisson now has more league assists this season than United's Jesse Lingard, and as many as Mesut Ozil and Raheem Sterling. Liverpool's speedy attacking trio of Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino provide Alisson with the opportunity with of a quick breakaway - a point noted by United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after his side's defeat as he labelled them "the most most direct team in the league". He added: “When the long balls go for Mane, Salah and Firmino, then it is very difficult as they always look to go in behind you." Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp summed the incident up concisely, exclaiming: "Alisson Becker, what an assist, and then Mo Salah, what a goal." Far from being just long-ball exponents, Liverpool have in fact made the third highest number of passes in the league this season with 13,375, placing them behind only Chelsea (13,816) and Manchester City (15,299). Manchester United meanwhile are down in seventh, having made 11,560 passes. Virgil van Dijk leads the way for individual players, having made 1,806 passes, way ahead of Leicester's Caglar Soyuncu (1,506) in second.
