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League leaders Liverpool visited Selhurst Park this evening to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League. It's a venue not particularly liked by the visitors due to their history at the ground and the leaders were hoping to continue their unbeaten run.
It was a tough game for the Reds, as the home team gave it their all but just fell short till the final few minutes. The first half saw an unmotivated display by Liverpool, who were looking disjointed post the international break, and not at all like their usual selves. Crystal Palace played with their hearts out against England's most dominant team and threatened the Liverpool defence on several occasions.
It was Sadio Mane who scored the opener for the visitors just after the start of the second half. The Eagles did not bow out and continued to attack. They were rewarded for their efforts in the 82nd minute when some poor defending saw Wilfried Zaha find some open space in the box, and he finished past Alisson Becker. However, as has been the case so often this season, Liverpool found the winner through Roberto Firmino who found the back of the net in the 85th minute.
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This 1-2 win ensured that the Reds remain 8 points clear at the top of the table with 13 games done. Here are the three reasons why they won the game -
#1. VAR came to Liverpool's rescue yet again
Liverpool looked a shadow of themselves in the first half as Crystal Palace were the more threatening team for the first 45 minutes. James Tomkins nodded the ball in from a corner in the 42nd minute, and the home fans went ballistic. However, there seemed to be some controversy regarding the goal and VAR was called in to intervene.
Upon inspection, VAR adjudged that Palace striker Ayew had pushed Dejan Lovren in the box, and it was deemed to be a foul. As a result, the goal was overruled and the score remained 0-0. Although not a very strong challenge, the push was intended to unsettle Lovren and VAR made the correct decision in this regard, as the Reds heaved a sigh of relief.
It was a point of sorrow for the home team, who thought they deserved a goal for all the good work they had put in. It was not to be, however, and Liverpool went on to win the game eventually. VAR has helped the league leaders on several occasions this season, and Jurgen Klopp will be thankful for the system at the moment.
#2. Sadio Mane continued his impressive goal-scoring streak
Sadio Mane put up another spirited performance as he made things happen for his team again. Despite missing an easy chance created by captain Jordan Henderson early in the second half, the pacy winger made amends a few minutes later as he latched on to a loose ball in the box for Liverpool's first goal of the game.
Star forward Mohamed Salah was unfit to start the game, and therefore the onus of scoring the goals today fell to his fellow teammate, who did not disappoint. It was Mane's 8th goal of the Premier League season, and he is in the contention for the player of the season so far. It was also the Senegalese international's third goal running in three Premier League games, and it gave his team the much-needed boost they needed in the game.
Jurgen Klopp will be happy with the performance from his player, who is currently Liverpool's leading goalscorer this campaign. Mane himself will be looking to continue his good form as the Reds strengthen their bid for a league title.
#3. Liverpool are truly the mentality monsters
Manager Jurgen Klopp described his squad as one filled with "mentality monsters". What he meant by this quote is that the team is so strong mentally, that they do not know the meaning of giving up. For the past few games, the Reds have been showing just that.
It was not a particularly good performance from the league leaders, who looked disoriented and hungover after the international break. However, the team made the defensive stops when needed, and the forwards showed up when needed. A few weeks ago against Aston Villa, Liverpool came from 1-0 down to score two goals in quick succession to get all 3 points. Against Leicester City earlier on this season, the team scored the winner in injury time.
Although the winner did not come as late as injury time today, it did come late. After Zaha scored Palace's equaliser in the 82nd minute, the visitors started to attack with more urgency. The home crowd was raucous, but Klopp's men did not get intimidated. It was Roberto Firmino who scored from a set-piece in the 85th minute, as the Reds yet again snatched away a victory from a resilient team.
It is due to their never-say-die attitude and the mentality of the team as a whole that Liverpool is at the top of the league. No matter the challenge, it seemsthe team simply cannot lose right now. It remains to be seen whether any club will be able to catch up with the rampant Reds in the future.
