Football
Chris Wright, Toe Poke writer 3y

Unbelievable! Alisson joins the select band of goal-scoring goalkeepers

Liverpool kept their Champions League qualification hopes alive with a dramatic 2-1 victory over West Brom on Sunday. The winning goal came in the 95th minute, when Alisson rose highest amid a crowded box to nod home and thus become the first keeper to score for the Reds in any competition in the club's 129-year history.

It was an immensely emotional moment for Alisson, who celebrated with tears in his eyes before subsequently dedicating the goal to his father, who sadly passed away earlier this year.

The Brazil international also confirmed his initiation into a small and incredibly exclusive band of goalkeepers who have scored in Premier League games. Including their latest arrival, the club boasts only six members since 1992.

Here's how the Liverpool keeper's last-gasp effort against the Baggies compares to those who came before:

Peter Schmeichel (Aston Villa) vs. Everton, 2001

It took almost a decade, but Schmeichel became the first goalkeeper to score in the Premier League when he netted a late consolation goal for Villa in a 3-2 defeat against Everton.

Trailing by two goals and with time running out, Villa launched a 90th-minute corner into the box only to find their veteran Danish keeper waiting at the far post to volley home.

Brad Friedel (Blackburn Rovers) vs. Charlton Athletic, 2004

Friedel became the second keeper to score in the Premier League when he notched a 90th-minute equaliser against Charlton.

The United States international momentarily turned striker as he pounced on a loose ball inside the penalty area to level the game at 2-2, only to then concede an even later goal as the Addicks went on to win the match 3-2.

Paul Robinson (Tottenham) vs. Watford, 2007

Robinson scored Spurs' second goal of the afternoon as his side comfortably dispatched Watford 3-1 at White Hart Lane.

The goalkeeper launched a free kick from 10 yards outside his area only to see it somehow bounce over opposite number Ben Foster and into the corner of the Hornets net.

Tim Howard (Everton) vs. Bolton Wanderers, 2012

Assisted by the wind, Howard's enormous punt upfield went sailing the entire length of the Goodison Park pitch before bouncing up and over flailing Bolton goalkeeper Adam Bogdan.

Thankfully for Bogdan, Bolton held on to win 2-1 thus sparing his blushes somewhat.

Howard's goal still ranks as one of the longest distance strikes scored in the Premier League after being measured at 95 yards.

Asmir Begovic (Stoke City) vs. Southampton, 2013

Begovic earned himself a Guinness World Record when he scored for Stoke after just 14 seconds of their game against Southampton.

Simply seeking to clear the danger, he sent a forceful clearance up the pitch only to see it squeeze past Artur Boruc at the far end of the Britannia Stadium.

The swirling wind definitely played its part, but that didn't stop Begovic from being officially credited with the world record for the longest goal ever scored (100.5 yards), and the fasted of the 2013-14 Premier League season.

However, the record for the longest goal was taken from him in January when Newport County keeper Tom King scored against Cheltenham from a truly incredible distance of 105 yards.

Alisson Becker (Liverpool) vs. West Brom, 2021

Cometh the 95th minute, cometh the man as a leaping Alisson connected with a Trent Alexander-Arnold corner to become the first goalkeeper to score with a header in a Premier League game.

As well as winning the game in spectacular fashion, the goal also secured three vital points for the Reds as they continue to chase down a top-four finish.

Honourable mentions

Of course, outside the Premier League confines, many goalkeepers have managed to score goals over the years -- some flukes, some spectacular, some making an impressive habit of it.

For instance, legendary former Sao Paulo stopper Rogerio Ceni was a penalty and free kick specialist and scored no less than 131 goals for the Brazilian club during his long and distinguished career. 

Paraguay goalkeeper Jose Luis Chilavert is another famed for his prowess in front of the opposing goal, also a penalty and free kick expert, even becoming the first goalie in recorded history to bag a hat trick during his time at Velez Sarsfield (three penalties against Ferro Carril Oeste in 1999).

Carrying on the grand tradition of maverick South American goalies, Colombia's Rene "Scorpion Kick" Higuita wasn't to be outdone -- scoring 41 competitive goals during his zany career.

Famed for his retina-troubling jerseys and eccentric approach to football, Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos was a frustrated striker who even swapped shirts and played up front from time to time.

Carlisle goalkeeper Jimmy Glass scored one of the most famous goals in English football history when he kept his side in the Football League on the final day of the 1998-99 season.

Bayer Leverkusen stopper Hans-Jorg Butt scored 32 goals during his career but is most famous for getting caught out after dispatching a penalty against Schalke in 2004.

While Butt was casually trotting back to his own goal, a quick-thinking Mike Hanke sent a long lob over his head directly from kick-off.

There's definitely a lesson in there somewhere.

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