Liverpool 0 Crystal Palace 1
After a home drubbing in the Europa League, Liverpool welcomed Crystal Palace to Anfield as they looked to get back to winning ways. With Man City victorious the day before, nothing but a win would do for Jurgen Klopp’s side. It seemed a routine win on paper.
The Reds created the first opening of the match when Robertson and Diaz combined. The full back made a run through the middle and fed it into the path of Nunez. He took one touch before looking to bend one in the far corner but got it all wrong as he fired straight at Henderson.
Crystal Palace put a brilliant string of passing together, with the hosts not getting a single touch on the ball. Mitchell squared the ball to Eze in the box, completely unmarked, who side-footed his effort past Alisson to give The Eagles an early lead.
It was all too easy for Oliver Glasner’s side and many have been left wondering what has happened to this Liverpool team. They have gone from looking like favourites in the three-horse title race to the most likely to be put down. Anfield fell silent.
Credit: @CPFC
What is a more worrying fact for Reds’ fans is that this was the twenty-first time they had gone behind in a game this season. Despite them having some of the best stats for comebacks also, you just cannot keep giving sides a head start in games.
Palace almost doubled their lead when a routine ball into the path of Van Dijk saw the defender slip and Mateta had a clear run on goal. As he dinked his effort past the advancing keeper, only a last-ditch sliding clearance from Robertson on the goal line prevented the hosts falling further behind.
Klopp’s side were causing problems with the impressive Robertson but his cross was put behind for a corner by Andersen. As the resulting set piece came in, the visitors failed to clear their lines and the ball dropped to Endo. He got a shot away, only to see it come back off the crossbar.
Liverpool’s dangerous left-back put another inch-perfect cross into the back post to pick out Diaz. His acrobatic volley seemed destined for the net until the Palace keeper somehow got a touch to it to turn it over the bar. It was a fantastic reaction save from Henderson.
Mac Allister then set Salah away down the right. He cut inside onto his left foot and look to bend one in the far corner but again Henderson was equal to it. Liverpool are starting to look so wasteful in attack, it would be no surprise to start seeing Greta Thunberg campaigning outside Anfield next week.
Early in the second half, the hosts forced another corner. As Van Dijk’s header dropped to Nunez six yards out, he drilled his shot straight at Henderson. The Uruguayan has had over 110 shots this season with a return of 10 goals. It is the sort of strike rate you see from a Middle Eastern militia.
Credit: @CPFC
Szoboszlai was getting involved in the game after his introduction at the interval and put a teasing cross into the six yard box but Andersen was there to mop up. The Danish centre back was having one of his best games in a Crystal Palace shirt.
Shortly after, Jones was tackled on the edge of the box but the ball ran through for Szoboszlai. He unselfishly squared it to Jota, taking the keeper out of the game. The usually clinical Portuguese forward saw his shot blocked on the line when he had to score.
The visitors won a free kick in the Liverpool half. Eze lofted a ball to the back post which Andersen headed down. Mateta controlled it on his thigh before putting his foot through his half-volley. Somehow Alisson got an arm to it to turn it over the crossbar. Flashbacks of Dudek against AC Milan.
As Palace mounted another attack, the move faltered. This is where The Reds look most dangerous. They broke with real pace and had a number overload. Jones ran through on goal with Henderson rushing out to meet him. The midfielder fluffed his lines as he slotted wide of the goal.
At this point, Liverpool’s performance was starting to prove like watching Babestation. It all looked pretty and the build-up was pleasing on the eye but there was absolutely no penetration whatsoever. They could still be playing now and wouldn’t have scored.
Gakpo then crossed in towards Jota. As he tried to control it on his chest, it dropped to Salah two yards out. He looked to slot the ball home but Mitchell came from nowhere to get a block in to deny him. It was becoming a reoccurring image to see Liverpool players with their head in their hands.
Crystal Palace held on for an impressive victory. Despite having 70% possession and 21 shots in the game, Klopp’s side had failed to score for a second successive game at Anfield. The players’ reactions at the whistle suggested that they felt the title had gone.
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