Alisson wins Standard Chartered Men's Player of the Month award
Alisson Becker has been named Liverpool's Standard Chartered Men's Player of the Month for October.
The No.1 won the fan vote held on Liverpoolfc.com, in which Mohamed Salah and Harvey Elliott finished second and third respectively.
After collecting the award at the AXA Training Centre, Alisson told Liverpoolfc.com: “It’s really good and something nice when people see how good you are doing on the pitch, as well as to feel I am doing something good to help the team to try to achieve targets.
“I always try my best in the games to help the team to get the results we want. In a few games we did, but others we didn’t. You know how you perform; I am the biggest critic of myself, so when I do something good I know it and I don’t praise myself too much. But when I do something wrong, I don’t go the opposite way either.
“I do try to get better, to improve, even when I either do something good or something not-so-good because that’s the way I try to keep at a high level.”
Such has been Alisson’s form in 2022-23 so far, his name is featured frequently in discussions around which goalkeeper can be considered the world’s finest.
The 30-year-old’s humble nature means he is not one to be drawn on such debates, but he does feel he could be playing the best football of his career.
“So far, it could be,” he answered, when asked if he was enjoying his finest campaign to date. “I think last season was a really good season for myself.
“My target is to do at least the same, to keep the same level, but we are playing football and it depends on the team’s performance as well. We are trying to find consistency as a team and if I can do it only for myself, for me it is not right.
“I do things to help the team together and I would be happy for that because last season I did so good because of the team, not only because of myself. This moment is no different; not all the results are coming out for us in the end, but this is football and you have to fight, try to fight more and my teammates are helping me every matchday to be the best I can do.”
The Brazil goalkeeper played all nine of the Reds’ matches in October, registering four clean sheets and making several outstanding saves, including a penalty stop to deny Jarrod Bowen in the 1-0 home win over West Ham United.
Asked to select his best intervention during the month, he said: “Good question! I didn’t think about it before.
“The penalty save against West Ham was a special one - at Anfield with the Kop behind me. A special moment. But if I would point to another save then maybe it would be one against Nottingham Forest, it was the first one that came to my mind. I think there were a few good saves this month.”
It’s not just in defensive actions Alisson enjoyed a stellar October. As well as passing the 200-appearance mark for the club, he provided his third Premier League assist for Salah as Liverpool defeated Manchester City 1-0 at Anfield.
All of those trio of tee-ups were for his Egyptian teammate - so which one is his favourite?
“I try to use everything I have with my hands and my feet to try to help the team somehow,” he replied.
“I really liked this assist [against City] because of Mo’s movement, it was amazing what he did. I think against Norwich it was the easiest one because he was really there in front of the goal.
“The Manchester United one, he needed to run with the ball with a player at his back, so it was difficult as well. But if I had to choose one, I would choose the one against Man City.”
Alisson reserved words of gratitude for supporters who had cast a vote in his favour for the prize, saying: “Thank you very much! Thank you for voting.
“For me, it is not a target to be the best player or to get prizes. It is always good, the feeling is always good when you get them, but I will always try to do my best for the team and for you, the supporters, and for this club.”
2022-23 Standard Chartered Men's Player of the Month winners
October - Alisson Becker
August and September - Harvey Elliott