EPL 2017/18: Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace, 5 talking points

After a shambolic 3-3 draw in their opening game of the season, Jürgen Klopp’s men were looking to get back to winning ways in a home fixture against Crystal Palace. The South Londoners were also looking to put behind them a poor opening weekend, as they were thrashed 3-0 at home by Huddersfield.

After a lacklustre first half, the game kicked into life in the second 45 minutes. Liverpool’s high octane football shone through and 27 minutes later, the Reds took the lead through Sadio Mane. Mane’s close range strike proved to be the deciding factor in the game, as it ended 1-0.

The 1-0 gives Liverpool their first win of the season and means Palace have now suffered back to back defeats under new boss, Frank de Boer.

Here are the 5 biggest talking points of the game.

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#5 Andrew Robertson is better than Alberto Moreno

Andrew Robertson made 3 key passes in the game

Last season, Jürgen Klopp played Joe Gomez, Alberto Moreno and most surprisingly James Milner at left-back. It was clear that the German didn’t know who his best left-back option was and instead stuck with the safe option of a defensive-minded James Milner. Such a deficiency could only be ignored for so long and Liverpool finally splashed £10m on Hull City’s left-back Andrew Robertson in the summer.

The Scotsman made his competitive Liverpool debut against Crystal Palace. Up against a tricky winger in Andros Townsend, Robertson put in a sturdy performance where he didn’t put a foot wrong going forward or in defence. Robertson was the only Liverpool player that found himself in pockets of space in the final third, he was the driving force for most of Liverpool’s attacks. The 23-year old completed 107 passes, made 2 tackles and managed 1 interception.

#4 Ruben Loftus-Cheek is special

Loftus-Cheek had 40 touches during the game

Playing in an advanced midfielder position, Ruben Loftus-Cheek showed the world why he’s so highly rated at Chelsea. The 21-year old represents the perfect blend of pace, power, strength and technical ability, all traits he showed at Anfield.

In Palace’s 3-5-2, attacking support is hard to come by. This meant that Loftus-Cheek was forced to be the all-important link between midfield and attack. His job was made harder because of Townsend’s poor performance on the ball, the winger was dispossessed 5 times during the match.

On the other hand, Loftus-Cheek created 2 chances, completed 77.3% of his passes and made 2 crucial interceptions. The Chelsea loanee single-handedly orchestrated Palace’s best chance of the game, as he effortlessly shrugged off Klavan to tee up Benteke, who in return blasted the ball over from 7 yards out. The youngster is clearly a star in the making and his performance at one of the most famous stadiums in England only added more weight to the claim.

#3 Liverpool miss Coutinho's creativity

Philippe Coutinho is currently out with a back injury

After selling their star Brazilian in Neymar, Barcelona have been since chasing Liverpool’s star Brazilian. Philippe Coutinho has been subject to multiple bids from the Catalan club, with the most recent one of £114m being emphatically rejected.

It was clear that the Reds struggled creatively without the little magician in the first half. A midfield three of Henderson, Milner and Winjaldum didn’t possess the creativity to break down a low-block Palace defence.

In the second half, Klopp clearly challenged his midfielders to be adventurous, as they made more runs into the final third. Regardless of the change in tempo and approach, it’s clear that Liverpool miss their talisman as he’s the only one with the ability to create something out of nothing.

#2 Crystal Palace’s 3-5-2 is not easy to break down

Crystal Palace only had 27.7% of possession

Frank de Boer lined his Palace side in up a wide but compact 3-5-2 that nullified Liverpool’s main attacking threats. In defence, the wing-backs tucked in alongside the centre backs and the midfield pivot dropped deep to track Liverpool’s midfield runners.

On the transition, Andros Townsend pushed up and acted like a 2nd striker behind Benteke ensuring the Eagles could overload Liverpool’s isolated defenders. At times, the wing-backs also joined the attack to help stretch pitch.

The 3-5-2 deprived Liverpool’s front three of space and time on the ball, resulting in the Reds being limited to long shots. The system also forced Liverpool into a redundant u-shape passing across the back four as Klopp’s men struggled to find space within the final third.

#1 Liverpool play better in a 4-2-3-1

Liverpool had 18 shots on goal

In the 71st minute, Dominic Solanke came on for Georginio Winjaldum, the change indicated a switch in formation for the Reds. Solanke went straight up front forcing Firmino to operate as a number 10. Two minutes later, Klopp’s men finally broke the deadlock as Mane cut inside from the left to exploit the space Solanke had created.

All of a sudden, Liverpool were zipping the ball around with pace and purpose into pockets of space. The 4-3-3 that Liverpool started with didn’t allow the attack to thrive, thus resulting in no one getting in behind the Palace defence.

The switch to a 4-2-3-1 allowed Salah and Mane to hug the touchlines and stretch the back three of Crystal Palace, this lead to bigger holes appearing as the close of the game came nearer.