Consider the most rapid players in the Liverpool squad and it’s unlikely goalkeeper Alisson Becker will top many lists. Yet while the Brazilian naturally leads the way with Premier League save percentages and looks set to retain his Golden Glove with six clean sheets in 13 appearances this season, it is perhaps a more surprising facet of his game which has seen him dethrone Sunday’s opponent, David De Gea of Manchester United, as the league’s best.

“A lot of people do not realise Ali is actually one of our quickest players,” explains Liverpool goalkeeper coach John Achterberg. “There have been games when sprinting-wise he has had the highest speeds. It’s a very good and important tool to have.”

Achterberg is studying Alisson’s heat map from last weekend’s victory over Tottenham Hotspur to make the point. The image shows how much time the South American spends outside his penalty area, while his passing stats are more akin to a midfield playmaker.

The natural ability to sense and avert danger before a minor threat becomes an alarm means Alisson makes the difficult look mundane.

“That’s true. It is because he has fast speed reactions and is powerful with his take-offs,” says Achterberg.