By: Shane Brennan.
Liverpool took on Crystal Palace in The Premier League on Sunday afternoon at Selhurst Park, The Reds were looking to take advantage of Manchester city’s un expected slip up against Southampton a day earlier.
Liverpool went about their business well extremely well from the start of the match, and came very close to taking the lead, when Trent Alexander-Arnold laid the ball off for Curtis Jones, he in turn found Andy Robertson, but his shot was to go narrowly over the top of Crystal Palaces crossbar, as Liverpool’s intent was clear for all to see.
Liverpool then won a corner, which Andy Robertson took, he managed to plant the ball right on top of Virgil Van Dijks head, who had the freedom of the penalty area to nod the ball home past a helpless Vicente Guaita ,as Liverpool took a deserved lead, as their early crisp, play got fully rewarded.
Liverpool threatened to add to their lead when Jones almost found Alex Oxlade Chamberlain with a decent pass, but Guaita was quick off his line to come to Palaces rescue. Then it was Robertson’s turn to ask questions of a struggling Crystal Palace defence, as he lofted the ball into the box, the ball went right across the Crystal Palace area, it came all the way through to Oxlade Chamberlain who unfortunately could not convert from a tight angle.
Crystal Palace fought back, totally against the run of play, when Joel Ward got in behind the Liverpool defence, he found Jean-Philippe Mateta, who made Alisson Becker pull off a wonderful save, but thankfully in any case the flag was raised for offside.
Liverpool had a huge opportunity to double their advantage when Andy Robertson found Roberto Firmino, who subsequently set up Diogo Jota who rolled the ball to the edge of the area for Fabinho to let fly, but sadly his shot rose over the bar as Liverpool continued to dominate. Liverpool’s persistence payed off when Robertson crossed the ball in, it found its way to the back post to an unmarked Oxlade Chamberlain, who slotted the ball comfortably past a helpless Guaita as The Reds doubled their lead in South London.
Palace looked to respond when Mateta tried to find Conor Gallagher, but thankfully he could not take it under his spell and the ball found its way through to Alisson.
Liverpool played themselves into trouble, when Joel Matip gave the ball away toMichael Olise but Alisson stood up to his shot to preserve Liverpool’s two goal cushion. Firmino gave the ball away to the dangerous Olise once again, this time he found Mateta, who took the ball around Alisson, but somehow from Olise’s resulting shot Alisson managed to miraculously get a fingertip on the ball to divert the ball wide of goal, as Liverpool somehow went in two goals to the good at the break.
Crystal Palace started the second half as they ended the first on the attack as Jeffrey Schlupp found Odsonne Edouard, he found Olise who then tried to cross the ball in for Gallagher, but every so fortunately he could not make sufficient contact with the ball, as Liverpool survived yet another scare.
Palace were to have a guilt edged opportunity, when Olise’s cross enabled Schlupp to nod the ball down, the ball found Edouard, who tried to back heel the ball into the net, but Alisson was equal to it pulling off another good save.
Liverpool were to create a rare opportunity of their own, when Oxlade Chamberlain found skipper Jordan Henderson, who then turned and twisted in the penalty area to get his shot away, sadly the effort was to just drift wide of Guaita left hand post.
The Reds were finally made pay for coughing up a chance when Schlupp found Mateta who in turn put the ball on a plate for Edouard to knock the ball into an empty net, to give Palace a deserved foot hold in the game.
It was Anderson’s turn to have a strike at Alisson’s goal, and mercifully the ball was to just scrape wide of Alisson’s left hand post, as Liverpool’s lead hung by a thread.
Patrick Vieria’s men came ever so close to an equaliser when Joachim Andersen found the ever so dangerous Olise, who tried to chip Alisson, thankfully the Brazilian was able to get his big left hand up to claw the ball away, as Liverpool clung on by the skin of their teeth.
Then with five minutes remaining Trent Alexander-Arnold racking pass found Diogo Jota who was clean through on goal with Guaita who ended up taking down Jota, and after a long VAR check he was adjudged to have fouled the Portuguese man. Fabinho stepped up to do the honours sending Guaita the wrong way, as every person associated with Liverpool Football Club breathed a huge sigh of relief, as The Reds went off for their winter break safe in the knowledge that The Premier League Title Race was very much still alive.
By: Shane Brennan.
