Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker achieved a historic feat when he rushed forward and headed home the winning goal for the Reds. The goal made fans go berserk and everyone was talking about the Brazilian custodian scoring the winner to keep Liverpool in contention for Champions League football next season.
Indian national team goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was also very excited watching that goal. The Bengaluru FC custodian admitted that he does not mind replicating something like that if the need arises.
“I just can’t stop watching his header again, and again. Maybe it just happened – the ball fell in place and out of pure commitment he glided the ball – and what a header! But if he is doing that regularly in practice, then we have to admit that he is extra special,” Gurpreet opined in an interaction with the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
When questioned whether Gurpreet would like to emulate the Brazilian, the 29-year-old was very much into the plan.
“Not that I am desperate to do it, and I hope that I don’t have to do it ever. Obviously, there have been quite a few times that I have gone up for my club Bengaluru FC, and also during my stint with previous clubs,” he mentions.
“But if the team requires it as per the situation, who knows? But I would rather leave it to Sunil Chhetri. He is much better at it than me,” the Bengaluru FC shot-stopper’s laughter almost breaks the ceiling. “I have to work on me attacking the ball, and on my heading. But I don’t mind it,” he smiles again.
Football over the year has evolved a lot and now unlike earlier a goalkeeper is expected to add more arrows to their quiver. They are not just shot-stoppers anymore, they need to be good with their feet as well.
“For a modern-day goalkeeper, the importance of being good with your feet is paramount. Gone are the days when a goalkeeper was just a shot-stopper,” adds India No. 1 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
“Personally, it was an exciting challenge to undergo the transition phase. When I started professionally, the trend was more to save shots. The first instructions which I received were to kick the ball back to where it came from. But it’s changed now,” the first Indian player to feature in a Europa League (for Norwegian side Stabaek FK) match expressed.
“The goalkeeper needs to initiate the attack, help the team build up on the possession. His distribution has to be impeccable. However, I am still a student of the game and working on the same. There is a long way to go,” he expresses.
But after watching Alisson scoring that important goal for Liverpool Gurpreet jokingly adds how heading the ball and scoring may also become a trend for goalkeepers in coming days.
“And now I know, a goalkeeper needs to head it perfectly too,” he signed off.
