5 October 2024
Crystal Palace 0 Liverpool 1
Oliver Glasner’s side welcomed Liverpool to Selhurst Park, hoping to get their season kick-started in the process. The Eagles were still searching for their first win of the season, knowing that defeat would mean this would be their second worst start of a top-flight campaign. Not ideal when you had the league leaders coming to town.
It was an electric atmosphere as ever in the capital. Despite their poor start, you cannot fault the passion of their fans when they play at home. They almost got off to the perfect start when a low cross was lifted over Alisson by Nketiah and into the back of the net. The former Arsenal man wheeled away in celebration, only to have it taken away from him.
The finish was sublime but sadly, as the replay showed, he had just set off a little too early. It served as a stark warning to the visitors. They have come a cropper in important games here before and knew there was never such a thing as an easy game at Selhurst Park. Despite their form, Palace have some talented players it may only be a matter of time before they come good.
In their first attack of the game, Tsimikas played the ball out wide to Gakpo in space. He had time to pick a cross into the danger area. Chalobah seemed to have yards on any Liverpool player but had gone to sleep. Jota stole in and poked the ball past Henderson to break the deadlock. It all seemed so easy for Arne Slot’s side.
The goal really seemed to rock the confidence of Glasner’s side. Whenever they were in possession of the ball, they were either pick-pocketed of it or gave it away with a sluggish pass. This is the problem when form is not on your side, confidence is as fragile as an egg. The Reds worked the ball to Alexander Arnold outside the box, who did not need an invite to shoot. His effort was pushed away by the keeper.
Salah and Gravenberch then exchanged a neat one-two out wide and the Palace defence seemed static once again. The Dutch midfielder got to the byline before playing a pinpoint pass to Jota in the middle. With time and space, he scuffed his shot wide of the goal. It was a big chance for the Portuguese attacker and he really should have doubled the visitors’ lead.
Palace started to feel like they had a chance to capitalise on this missed chances. They came forward and Sarr skipped past his marker on the edge of the box. With the goal in his sights, he fired a shot off towards the bottom corner but Alisson got down well to save. Nketiah looked to react quickest but the Brazilian did well to gather the ball once again.
Liverpool were forced to make a change at the interval as Mac Allister was suffering from a thigh injury. Szoboszlai came off the bench to replace him. Slot’s side started the second half confidently, looking to pin The Eagles back into their own box. Van Dijk spotted the run of Salah and played a delightful ball over the defence to him.
The Egyptian King controlled it neatly on his thigh before snatching at the shot. Henderson managed to make the save with his feet to deny him. Most would have bet their own house on him scoring from the position he found himself in. You started to wonder whether the visitors would pay the ultimate price for failing to put this game to bed.
Slot’s side were then caught in possession in their own half. The ball was worked to Mateta on the edge of the box, who laid it off to Nketiah. His shot had some venom behind it but was straight at Alisson in the Liverpool goal, who made the necessary block. The Reds’ stopper had made a number of saves in this game that his side should be thankful for.
Mateta was starting to cause the visitors real problems. His physical approach plus ability to bring others into play was stretching Liverpool. The French striker spotted the run of Eze and laid it perfectly into his path. The Eagles’ winger struck a firm effort towards the top corner of the goal but once again Alisson made the save.
As the resulting corner came in, Alisson punched a header clear. Guehi went down at the far post appealing for a penalty. Looking at the replay, Van Dijk did have hold of his arm but it was never enough to warrant a spot kick. After all, this still is contact sport and if such an action isn’t enough to control a toddler in the supermarket, it certainly does not stop a grown man getting to the ball.
Things were starting to get nervy for The Reds as time went on. Palace continued to pile on the pressure and Alexander Arnold played a backpass to his keeper. He hacked the ball into touch with his left foot and immediately fell to the ground seeming distraught. Alisson knew this was the end of his day and a potential time out on the sidelines.
With Kelleher out of the matchday squad, inexperienced Vitezslav Jaros was to make his debut for Arne Slot’s side. Moments later Mateta broke with the ball and Eze was in acres of space. The winger had a huge chance to equalise but his shot was straight at the Czech stopper. He made a routine save to ensure his side kept their lead.
Liverpool managed to hold on for a crucial win in the capital. Having played in the early kick-off, they extended their lead at the top of the table. Crystal Palace on the other hand went into the international break still winless and in the bottom three. Both sides will have time to reflect over the next fortnight and in the visitors’ case, nurse some players back to full fitness.
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