LIVERPOOL, England (REUTERS) - Premier League leaders Liverpool recovered from a poor first-half display as they came from behind to beat an impressive Crystal Palace 4-3 in an enthralling clash at Anfield on Saturday (Jan 19).
The win, secured by late goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, moves Juergen Klopp's side a provisional seven points clear of second-placed Manchester City, who face bottom club Huddersfield Town on Sunday.
Palace won at City last month and at times looked as though they could produce another upset but while this was far from vintage Liverpool their prolific strikers helped them avoid a slip-up.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, two Liverpool goals inside the opening eight minutes of the second half changed the momentum of the match.
"The result is massive, we have 60 points now, it's crazy, it's an important number," said Klopp.
"I'm really proud, a few things happened that we don't really need, we're a bit short now on players but we have a few days and need to use the time now for recovery."
Palace, the last team to win at Anfield in the league back in April, 2017, took a shock 34th minute lead, against the run of play, when Andros Townsend slotted home a fine pull-back from Wilfried Zaha.
Liverpool equalised 47 seconds after the interval when the ball looped high into the area where Salah skilfully converted with the outside of his left foot after Virgil van Dijk's long-range effort was blocked.
LIVERPOOL BUZZING
Suddenly Liverpool were buzzing and it was no surprise when Brazilian Roberto Firmino put them ahead, collecting a pass from Naby Keita and beating veteran Palace keeper Julian Speroni with a slightly deflected low shot.
But the visitors were not about to roll over and they fought back to level at 2-2 in the 65th when James Tomkins was left unattended to head in a Luka Milivojevic corner.
Â
Speroni, Palace's 39-year-old third-choice, then gifted Liverpool a goal when his one-handed waft at a harmless-looking James Milner cross fell for Salah to tap in after 75 minutes.
Salah now has 50 goals in his 72 Premier League appearances and is the current top scorer in the league with 16.
Milner was sent off in the 89th for a second yellow card after a late challenge on Zaha before Mane added the fourth for the hosts with a solo strike in stoppage time.
There was still time for Palace to strike again with Max Meyer beating Alisson Becker with a low shot which the Brazilian keeper would have expected to save.
Liverpool's back line then handled some late pressure from Palace to seal the three points.
MASSIVE RELIEF
"It's a massive relief," said Klopp.
"We knew for different reasons the game would be difficult. Crystal Palace traditionally do well against Liverpool and with the physicality it was clear it would be like the first half was.
"We had to stay positive, being one down is not a massive blow, we just needed to win the second half and did what we had to do," he added.
Hodgson, whose side are hovering just above the relegation zone despite excellent performances against some of the top clubs, said he felt a mixture of pride and disappointment.
"I'm very proud of the team. You know they have extremely good players, you know it will be a hard task and it will require a lot of discipline and we did well to come back to 2-2 and 4-3 at the end after conceding a very unfair goal.
"You need character and personality and good team spirit, people prepared to stick to the game plan even when it's not going your way.
"We knew if we deviated from the plan we could find it very difficult but we stuck to our way of playing and really I should be stood here congratulating the lads on getting something out if it," added the former Liverpool and England manager."
The investigation was triggered by European football's governing body in March. Man City appeal against possible Champions League ban. Man City appeal against possible Champions League ban.
Man City appeal possible Champions League ban
Cardiff 1-5 Manchester United: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes dream start to reign as Red Devils run riot in the Welsh capital to register morale-boosting win He told me to make them play football
LONDON - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri admitted it will be hard to deny Eden Hazard a move to Real Madrid this summer, even if a reported pound sterling100 million ($130 million) move is "too
£100m too cheap, but hard to keep hold of Hazard, admits
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/04/08/100m-too-cheap-but-hard-to-keep-hold-of-hazard-admits-sarri/
£100m too cheap, but hard to keep hold of Hazard, admits Sarri AFP April 8, 2019 AFP No Comments London (AFP) - Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri admitted it will be hard to deny Eden Hazard a move to Real Madrid this summer, even if a reported £100 million ($130 million) move is "too cheap" for the Belgian captain.
Sarri admits it will be difficult to keep Hazard- Samaa
England captain Harry Kane has his heart set on ending his playing career in the United States kicking field goals for a team in the National Football League (NFL). Kane wants to end career as
England Captain Harry Kane Wants to End Career as NFL Kicker
The Socceroos continue their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ campaign with a pivotal clash against Palestine on Friday night (AEDT) in Dubai. After the opening game loss against Jordan, Graham Arnold's men will be desperate to bounce back with an improved showing against Palestinians. With one game now
A lawyer for FIFA council member Mahfuza Akhter Kiron is set to file a petition in a Bangladesh court on Tuesday seeking bail for the official who has been arrested in a defamation case following her criticism of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Mahfuza courted trouble after her remarks in a news
Bangladesh FIFA official arrested for 'defaming' PM Hasina
Former Manchester United coach Jose Mourinho fell as he presented a symbolic face-off at a Russian hockey match Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off The two-time
Mourinho humiliated by fall at Russian hockey league face-off
Captain's unfinished business. Liverpool's Jordan Henderson has already accomplished something England's so-called Golden Generation never did and played in a World Cup semi-final.
Deadliest Catch: Unfinished Business - tv.com
Apr 16, 2019 · Messi, now, at 31, goes where he likes, when he likes, and Ernesto Valverde's Barcelona flexes its shape to fit in the gaps. He spends the first 10 minutes or so of every game ambling around
On Soccer: A Genius in Full Bloom, Lionel Messi Lifts
Title cannot soothe PSG's pain in Europe - straitstimes.com
Paris: Japan failed to break down a determined and well-organised Argentine defence in Paris on Monday in the first goalless draw of the women's World Cup. Japan, finalists in 2015 and winners in 2011, enjoyed almost two thirds of possession, but only forced two saves from goalkeeper Vanina Correa.
Dogged Argentina hold Japan to goalless draw - Soccer
The English champions released a statement bemoaning the "hostile process" undertaken by European football's governing body after former Belgian Prime Minister and current chairman and chief investigator of UEFA's club financial control body determined that there is a case to be answered regarding suspected violations of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules.
AC Milan at risk of European ban as Uefa launch further
0 comments:
Post a Comment