Liverpool clashed heads with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park earlier today as they hoped to secure a positive result on the road. The Reds made a bright start to the game and took the lead in the eighth minute courtesy of a solid header from Virgil Van Dijk. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled Liverpool’s advantage in the 32nd minute with a clinical finish after being played in by a superb cross from Andrew Robertson. The Merseyside outfit cruised a 2-0 lead at the half-time break.
Odsonne Edouard got a goal back for Palace in the 55th minute when he tapped the ball in from close range. However, Jurgen Klopp’s men regained their two-goal advantage courtesy of an 89th-minute penalty from Fabinho as the contest finished 3-1 in favour of the Reds.
Let’s take a look at how each Liverpool player performed during the match against the Eagles.
GK: Alisson Becker – 8/10
The Brazilian keeper singlehandedly protected Liverpool’s lead at times in the second half with some terrific shot-stopping. He was excellent but will be disappointed after conceding in the 55th minute.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7.5/10
He looked a bit vulnerable at times defensively but managed to create some decent openings for his teammates with his excellent diagonal crosses.
CB: Joel Matip – 6.5/10
He was sloppy on the ball at times when passing it inside his half. However, Matip did enough to restrict the Eagles from scoring more than once.
CB: Virgil Van Dijk – 7/10
Van Dijk was sometimes a bit slow to react to the danger and had a tough game defensively. However, he deserves credit for scoring Liverpool’s opener with an emphatic header.
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LB: Andrew Robertson – 8/10
The Scottish full-back worked hard defensively and created both of his team’s goals in the first half. However, his performance levels dropped a little after the half-time break.
CM: Jordan Henderson – 6.5/10
The Liverpool captain was full of energy and running at the centre of the park. However, he struggled to keep possession moving in the second half.
CM: Fabinho – 7.5/10
Fabinho read the danger well at times and produced another battling display in midfield. He kept his composure and scored from the penalty box which killed the game off.
CM: Curtis Jones – 6.5/10
The English talent was lively in the first half but offered very little in terms of creating chances in the second.
RW: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 7/10
Oxlade-Chamberlain scored Liverpool’s second goal with a controlled finish. However, he ran of gas and was replaced in the second half.
ST: Roberto Firmino – 6.5/10
He interchanged possession well with others around him in the first 45 minutes but struggled to influence the game offensively in the second.
LW: Diogo Jota – 6.5/10
He began the game brightly but struggled to get any sniffs at goal. Jota earned a controversial penalty which Fabinho scored to seal the points for the Reds.
Substitutes:
RW: Takumi Minamino – 6/10
He struggled to get into the flow of the game.
CM: James Milner – N/A
Milner hardly had any time to make an impact.
RB: Joe Gomez – N/A
He came on to run the clock down for the visitors.
