It was Alisson Becker’s admiration for Arsenal icon Thierry Henry that led to Jamie Carragher humorously storming off a live CBS broadcast.
The Liverpool shot-stopper had just come off a remarkable performance, with his nine saves instrumental in Liverpool’s tight 1-0 ictory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes in their Champions League encounter. Following the game, Alisson was naturally the man of the moment for an interview with the American channel CBS. After dissecting the match, the conversation took a lighter turn, and that’s when Alisson inadvertently ruffled Carragher’s feathers.
Micah Richards, the ex-Manchester City defender, quizzed Alisson: “Have you seen our show Alisson? Have you seen the clips online?” To which Alisson confirmed he had, prompting Richards to ask who his favorite pundit was, showcasing his Portuguese skills in the process.
Alisson responded: “Nice Portuguese by the way, I think I would have to say Thierry, legend. When I was growing up, I watched a lot of Arsenal in the early 2000s when he was playing. So, it was the only team that was showing on the TV in Brazil.”
This playful revelation led to mock indignation from both Richards and Carragher, with the latter dramatically getting up and leaving the set as Alisson continued to heap praise on Henry. Richards could be heard jesting, “I’ve had enough of this.”
Carragher’s feigned outrage came after he declared Liverpool’s victory in Paris as “one of the biggest robberies in football”. He also hinted that Alisson’s performance could provide Liverpool with the foundation to win the tournament.
(Image: CBS Sports/Twitter)
“Got away with it? That’s one of the biggest robberies you will ever see in football, that,” Carragher exclaimed. “I can’t believe what I’ve just witnessed. PSG were absolutely outstanding and battered Liverpool. How far will Liverpool go in the Champions League? Share your predictions in the comments below.
“The last time Liverpool won this competition, Alisson Becker made a save against Napoli in the final group game of the group stage. Liverpool could have been eliminated had Napoli scored. That is always looked back on as a pivotal moment.
“That wasn’t a save tonight. That was arguably the greatest performance of his career, certainly in a Liverpool shirt. And if Liverpool go on to win this competition – which they have a good chance of, they’re a lot better than what we saw tonight – then that performance will be remembered for years to come.”
