Liverpool’s quadruple chase highlights Jurgen Klopp's unsung hero amid attacking exploits

Liverpool are approaching the end of what they hope will be a long but fruitful run towards a trophy-laden end to the season.

It is a time which requires every single member of the playing and coaching staff to be pulling the same direction. If Liverpool are to achieve an historic quadruple then just about everything needs to go right from now on in – and they will need a healthy amount of luck too.

Recently there has been lots of hard work and very little luck behind their gallop towards the finish line. And one player who has epitomised their recent form is their goalkeeper, Alisson Becker.

A year ago the Brazilian was the toast of the red half of Merseyside after scoring a dramatic late header against West Brom. There has been nothing quite as remarkable this season, but plenty of the unremarkable yet absolutely vital to enjoy.

While Mohamed Salah will rightly take the plaudits for leading the line and Thiago Alcantara is the toast of the midfield at the moment following some sublime performances and Virgil van Dijk commands the back line, it is Alisson who is established as Liverpool’s great unsung hero.

That is only his external status, because he is certainly valued by his team-mates, who have watched time and again as the Brazilian has kept them in games, or ensured their clean sheet remains intact. His influence can actually be quantified too after the 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.

The shut-out saw Alisson become the first goalkeeper to reach 20 clean sheets in Europe's top five leagues this season. He now has 85 clean sheets in 177 games for the Reds since his £66.8million transfer from Roma in the summer of 2018. That is some going.

More than just keeping the ball out of the goal – which