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Alexander Doni – the man to make or break Dalglish’s Liverpool reign?

By on April 3, 2012

Alexander Doni is a name Liverpool fans will have seen regularly enough on the subs bench, but those who don’t turn out at Anfield early enough to watch the team warming-up, or follow the Reserves, may not even know what he looks like.

32-year-old Brazilian Doni has the high-pressure job of filling Pepe Reina’s boots whilst the Spanish goalkeeper spends three matches suspended for his “headbutt” (in the loosest sense of the word) on James Perch of Newcastle Utd on Sunday afternoon.

Those games are against Aston Villa at home this Saturday, away at Blackburn on 10th April, and the FA Cup semi-final clash against Everton at Wembley on April 14th.

With 6 defeats in Liverpool’s last 7 games, there isn’t even a point in recent club history more awkward to come into for Doni – who is yet to make an appearance since his free transfer from Roma last summer.

In fact Doni hasn’t even completed a full game for Liverpool – even in pre-season. Martin Hardy of The Independent this morning writes:

“…he [Doni] dislocated his finger against Rangers on his one start – and who conceded seven goals on his previous appearance in England.”

As if it couldn’t be any more cringeworthy, those seven goals he conceded were at Old Trafford, against Man Utd whilst playing for Roma.

One fan Doni already has is in young Uruguayan defender Sebastian Coates, who speaks of his fellow South American with great confidence.

“Alexander is a great person and a great goalkeeper. I am sure he will do really well,” Coates told the club’s official web site.

“He has played for Brazil, one of the greatest national teams in the world, so he is used to playing in big games.

“He perhaps hasn’t had an opportunity because obviously we have Pepe, but I think he will do well.

“I think he will make the most of every opportunity that’s given to him. He is a great teammate and we all wish him well.”

But whilst the pressure mounts for Doni, Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish may be more concerned with his team’s inability to score goals this season.

In fact, Liverpool have scored just 36 goals this season in the league (just ten more than Arsenal’s Robin van Persie has on his own) and with neither Andy Carroll, Craig Bellamy or Luis Suarez even getting close to scoring in Sunday’s defeat at Newcastle, those 36 goals don’t look like being raised too much further in the Reds’ final 7 games of the campaign.

Dalglish was clearly frustrated by his side’s failings in the final third on Sunday, telling press, “There were lots of times we did create openings, but we’ve got to take them. We’ve got to believe in ourselves and believe in what we’re doing. If we can do that, then we’ll have a better opportunity.”

Liverpool could be in the bottom half of the Premier League table by the end of the week, and are now a full 11 points behind sixth placed Newcastle and fifth placed Chelsea.

With Everton, who also sit above them in the league, in the FA Cup in less than two-weeks, it really feels like it’s make or break time for this current Liverpool set-up – or at least make or break for this season.

Alexander Doni is not the man to answer all of Liverpool’s prayers, but he is in the perfect position to take a chance and become a hero.



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  • David

    I watched him against Rangers and he looked not 2 bad if i remember correctly but was very unlucky 2 get injured. Good luck Doni!! Were all behind you!

  • Ashfah Ngog

    Chi Bai lu, one keeper doesnt make a team. I dont see any better may be for the worse.

  • magic2ouch

    to be fair reina had some very poor games recently – so doni cant do any worse. Our problems lie elsewhere and solutions lie elsewhere too.

    i think we will beat everton and get to the final. im not too hopeful of our league position because the team is currently psychologically damaged! Even games against fulham look unwinnable! Kenny needs to revert back to last year when the team played without regard to pressure and tactics and basically blew all opponents away.

    Suarez and Bellamy should be our forward line up supported by maxi and gerrard.

     

  • Jeff_lkw_81

    no doubt doni is a good gk.. but one man doesn’t make a team.. carroll n henderson must be bench.. play kuyt. maxi and shelvey.. bring bk cole n aquilani for next season and sign a quality forward to partner suarez!

  • Rederik

    Doni can only do his best, with some of the supporters we have i hope he has a good first game or they will crucify the guy, as for this season in the league it finished long ago for us with the injury to Lucas,the Suarez ban,incredible bad luck, and some of the refereeing decisions, it,s a miracle we have one cup in the bag and another one very much within our reach, only Kenny could have pulled this of so forget about the league this year,get behind the team and to all the fair weather supporters STOP CRYING Y.N.W.A    

  • SANJIT

    BUY BENT SOMEONE WHO COULD NOK IN THE GOALS

  • Shemps

    We welcome you Doni, to be honet, Reina looks totally bored…lets give Doni a chance

  • anj2099

    Doni The Don Good luck mate hope you give a good account of yourself YNWA.

  • anj2099

    King Kenny pick Maxi he cant be any worse than the rest.

  • Samdelasr

    As a long time Roma fan, i have endured what “Doni as your starting goalkeeper” means. He was average at his best! When the opposing teams used to strike towards Doni, I always had the feeling of “its most likely going in” 

    He cost us many games and a lot of salary space. It’s no wonder we let him go for free! He is a liability!

    • keep the faith

       so the defense need to step up!!!!!!!!!!!!! good luck either way Doni!

  • Hallaj

    With Reina’s current form, it couldnt have been a better time to call upon Doni. Perhaps he could make something from the backlines.

  • keep the faith

    if he makes 5 saves he’ll overtake Pepe for the whole season!!!