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Alisson Becker had an eventful game for Brazil on Thursday night, as he was twice sent off in a World Cup qualifier vs Ecuador, and twice stayed on the pitch.
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Whilst Virgil van Dijk gets much of the praise, there's no doubt that Alisson's arrival at Anfield has been just as important for the Reds success in recent years.
The Brazilian is as dependable as goalkeepers in the Premier League come, and he even chipped in with an extremely important goal, as Jurgen Klopp's side earned qualification into the Champions League last season.
However, on national duty on Thursday, the former Roma number one was not at his assured best and was shown two red cards, only to be handed two reprieves.
In the 30th minute, the 29-year-old was shown a red for a high boot on Enner Valencia but it was downgraded after the referee stared intently at the screen, with the forward adjudged to have run into the keeper's foot.
The Brazil keeper had to wait nearly an hour for his second 'sending off,' with the referee this time overturning a collision between him and Ayrton Preciado, that was initially given as a penalty.
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Preciado ran onto a loose ball into the box and Alisson had to be quick off his line to punch it clear, also making contact with the forward's head.
On second look the referee once again decided that the goalkeeper got to the ball first and so the red card and potentially match winning penalty was turned down.
Alisson's first incident wasn't even the first drama of the game and by the time he was nearly heading for an early bath two players had already done that.
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In the 15th minute, Ecuador goalkeeper Alexander Dominguez did get sent off for a high boot, as he ran out of his area and caught Matheus Cunha in the neck, and wasn't given a reprieve by the ref.
After the match Atletico Madrid forward Cunha showed off his scars, proving that the ref certainly got it right on that occasion with the red card.
Brazil's one man advantage didn't last long at all however and just four minutes later it was 10 vs 10, as Spurs defender Emerson Royal was sent off.
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The right back had managed to pick up a yellow card in the first minute of the game and just 18 minutes later he was shown a second, as he managed to kick Michael Estrada in a rather uncomfortable place.
The match also finished even on the scoreline, as Ecuador managed to come away with a well earned point that keeps them well on the way to qualifying for Qatar later this year.
Casemiro opened the scoring in the sixth minute, long before all the madness began, before Felix Torres headed home the equaliser in the 75th minute.
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Without VAR's intervention the hosts may have had a chance for a last minute penalty, then again Alisson may have been long gone before that for his first red card.
It was certainly quite the dramatic night inside the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado, one the Liverpool keeper and all in attendance won't forget anytime soon.
Featured Image Credit: Premier SportsTopics: Football World Cup, Brazil, Alisson, Alisson Becker, Liverpool
