Gerrard rose—unmarked—and met the ball with a clean header.
But Alvarado flew again. Arms up, fingertips stretching.
[ALVARADO! AGAIN!]
[You've got to be kidding me! That's another stunning save!]
The keeper crashed to the ground, ball clutched tight to his chest, eyes shut. As if even he couldn't believe it.
The whistle blew—free kick to AZ Alkmaar. A Liverpool player had bumped into a defender mid-air.
Boos rang out. Gerrard stayed on his knees, hands on his thighs, looking at the spot where the ball had gone.
[He's everywhere tonight, John. This keeper's putting in a world-class shift.]
[He's got that look about him—the one where nothing's getting past.]
Brendan Rodgers turned back to his bench and barked something. One of the assistants nodded, rushed down the sideline.
A change was coming. But not yet.
[We're almost at the 40th minute, Peter. One or two more attacks left in this half.]
[One more push. That's all they need.]
