Sunday’s match between Liverpool and Manchester City has caught the attention of the entire world, but in Brazil, in particular, there will be extra interest paid to the fixture at Anfield.
That is because for the first time, both goalkeepers in a Premier League match will hail from the South American country as Liverpool’s Alisson takes on Ederson, of City.
In the battle of the Brazilians, there is little to separate the two for numbers this season in the Premier League.
Alisson v Ederson
| 2018/19 | Alisson | Ederson |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 7 | 7 |
| Clean sheets | 4 | 4 |
| Goals conceded | 3 | 3 |
| Saves | 16 | 11 |
| Save percentage | 84.2% | 78.6% |
| Passing accuracy | 80.4% | 85.9% |
But in terms of support in his native country, the Liverpool goalkeeper has the upper hand, according to Natalie Gedra, a Premier League reporter for ESPN Brazil.
"Alisson played quite a while in Brazil, so people really know him, he is a more familiar face," Gedra says of Alisson’s years at Internacional.
But Ederson’s title-winning season at City has raised his profile back home, says Gedra, and could challenge his rival for popularity in Brazil.
"Maybe in the future people will have more shared opinions but today, Alisson is No 1," Gedra adds.
