Liverpool blew the chance to move back to the top of the Premier League after falling to a 1-0 defeat against Crystal Palace.
The Reds have been slow starters this season, going behind a staggering 22 times prior to the visit of Palace and they conceded the opening goal once again. Oliver Glasner’s side went in front inside the first quarter of an hour as a free-flowing move was coolly finished off by Eberechi Eze.
Moments later, Palace almost doubled their lead through Jean Phillipe-Mateta as his effort was scooped off the line by Andy Robertson. That seemed to wake Liverpool up as they began to create opportunities. Wataru Endo and Luis Diaz missed chances during the first half, before Darwin Nunez was wasteful just after the break.
Jurgen Klopp’s men continued to pile on the pressure without playing at their best, and should have equalised when substitute Diogo Jota saw his goalbound effort blocked by Nathaniel Clyne. The Anfield crowd then could barely believe it when Curtis Jones put the ball wide after going through on goal.
Mohamed Salah was the next to miss a gilt-edged opportunity as Palace held on for a vital three points. Here are six talking points from Anfield.
Klopp stunned
Liverpool have not started well in recent matches at Anfield and that theme continued against Palace. The Reds were sluggish from the get-go and allowed Oliver Glasner’s side to go in front in the 14th minute.
A fine flowing move ended with Tyrick Mitchell pulling the ball across from the left-hand side into Eze, who calmly slotted the ball home from inside the box for his seventh goal of the season.
Although it was brilliant from Palace, questions remain from a Liverpool point of view, after they were not quick enough to close the Palace players down before leaving Eze in so much room to finish.
Klopp was spotted looking shellshocked on the sidelines after seeing Palace cut them open with ease, appearing to say ‘wow’ as Liverpool were left to try and- come from behind at home once again.
Jurgen Klopp was left stunned after Crystal Palace took the lead (
Image:
Getty Images)
Heroic defending
Just four minutes after taking the lead, Palace were inches away from scoring again. This time, Jean Phillipe-Mateta raced through on goal after Virgil van Dijk slipped on the edge of the centre circle.
However, as Mateta dinked the ball over the onrushing Alisson and thought the ball was rolling into the back of the net, Andy Robertson somehow covered ground and clawed it off the line.
It was a heroic piece of defending from the Scotland international, who single-handedly saved a goal and kept Liverpool to within one as Palace threatened to sink the home side while in firm control.
Andy Robertson cleared off the line after Jean Phillipe-Mateta’s dinked effort
Liverpool wasteful
As a collective, Liverpool were disappointing against Palace but still had enough chances of their own. It took until the 27th minute for the Reds to create their first clear-cut opportunity, as the ball fell to Wataru Endo inside the area but saw his shot cannon off the bar and away to safety.
Liverpool continued to conjure up chances and Darwin Nunez should have levelled just after half-time. The Uruguayan pounced on a loose ball from a corner but drilled his low strike straight at Henderson.
The Reds were firmly knocking on the door and were denied once more in the 72nd minute after Nathaniel Clyne produced a goalbound block to deny Jota. Jones then completely missed the target after running clean through on goal, before Mohamed Salah was denied from close range.
It was a frustrating afternoon at the office in the end as Liverpool missed the chance to leapfrog Arsenal and Manchester City and move back to the top of the Premier League.
Darwin Nunez was among those to miss a clear-cut chance for Liverpool against Crystal Palace (
Image:
AFP via Getty Images)
Injury blow
Conor Bradley has been influential in the Liverpool side since making his Premier League debut at Bournemouth back in January. In fact, the right-back scored once and grabbed three assists in his first two top-flight appearances and has been a mainstay in the team after returning from the passing of his father.
However, Bradley could now be set for a spell on the sidelines after going off injured in the 48th minute against Palace. The 20-year-old went down after going into a challenge with Eze before appearing to hold his ankle. After treatment, Bradley was helped off the pitch by the medical team. Alexander-Arnold was the man to come on having himself returned from an injury, which has kept him out for almost two months.
Alisson back
After missing the last 13 matches in all competitions with a virus and then a hamstring injury, Alisson was back in the starting XI against Palace. Caoimhin Kelleher has excelled in his absence, but dropped to the bench as Klopp made a couple of changes to the side that were thrashing by Atalanta.
And Alisson had to pick the ball from the back of his net less than a quarter of an hour into his return after Eze fired past him. The Brazilian did, however, produce a string of saves to ensure Liverpool didn’t concede any more. He made a routine save to deny Michael Olise and then a goal-saving stop to keep out Mateta in the second-half.
Alisson made his return for Liverpool against Crystal Palace
