LIVERPOOL KEEPS THEIR TITLE HOPE’S ALIVE WITH ANOTHER WIN OVER A STUBBORN CRYSTAL PALACE TO EXTEND THEIR UNBEATEN RUN IN THE LEAGUE
The European champions continued their quest for their first ever premier league title in 30 years with a 2-1 win over Roy Houdson’s men at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Crystal Palace who hosted liverpool at Selhurst Park is another strong team in the premier league, so Jurgen klopp knew that for his team to be able to take home all 3 points they had to be at their best knowing that they were playing away from home. Coming in at the back of a busy international break, they were some injury concern on some liverpool players who were withdrawn early from international duty due to some minor knocks. The likes of Vigil Van dijk, Joe Gomez, Jordan Henderson, Sadio mane, Mohammed Salah and Robertson were all doubt heading into the game with Crystal Palace. But they were able to recover just in time to be fit for the match.
The game which saw liverpool carved out a hard fought 2-1 victory was indeed a difficult one. Crystal Palace were dangerous in the attack and whenever with the ball, they pose a threat to liverpool defence. The likes of Wilfred Zaha was trouble for liverpool Right Back Alexander Arnold who struggled to cope with his pace. Liverpool were without their star man ‘mohammed Salah’ for the match who is still recovering from an ankle injury picked up in Leicester city game as he only managed to make the bench as an unused substitute. Questions were ask if liverpool will be able to defeat a stubborn Crystal Palace and take all three point without their star man.
Salah may not be replicating the same form he was for liverpool in his first season with the club, but his contribution to the team has been immersed. And whenever he is not included in the starting line up, his absent is always felt.
The first-half of the trilling encounter ended in a goalless draw although Crystal Palace had taken the lead just before half-time but it was ruled out by Var because of a foul committed by a crystal Palace man who shoved Lovern to the ground in the liverpool box just before the goal.
Liverpool were not threatening in the first-half and they failed to register a shot on target all through the first half. But in the second half, they came out revitalized. Sadio mane had put liverpool up in front early in the second half to take his tally to eight premier league goals scored this season for his club when he hobbled the ball pass the crystal palace goal keeper into the net. A first, it looked like the ball was going to be deflected out by the cross bar as it hit the post before crossing the line into the empty net. liverpool were leading 1-0.
Crystal Palace continue to search for an equalizer as they looked threatening whenever they were going forward. The equalizer finally came in the 82 minutes when Wilfred Zaha scored to cancel out Sadio mane’s opener.
The match was looking like it was going to be a draw, but liverpool who are known for winning games ugly continue to press for the winning goal and once again invoke their winning spirit which came in just five minutes left to play, when Roberto Firmino scored a scramble goal from a corner kick after a poor clearance from crystal Palace man who mistakenly gifted the ball to him while waiting patiently at the box to slot home into the net from six yards and regain their lead. Liverpool were leading 2-1.
Jurgen klopp had opted to bring in Mohammed Salah from the bench, but when he saw that the game was better off defending than attacking, he changed his mind and brought in Joe Gomez to help seal all 3 points. Joe came in and did exactly what he was brought in for, helping Trent Anorld deal with a stubborn Wilfred Zaha at the back.
The win over crystal palace now means liverpool extend their unbeaten run to 13 games played this season, with the reds winning 12 games and drawing just 1. They are comfortably sitting top of the table with 37 points from just 13 matches played this season, 8 points behind second place Leicester city
