A good 3-1 win for Liverpool away at Crystal Palace allows the Reds to go into the winter break with much to look forward to for the rest of the season.
Having secured a Carabao Cup final rendezvous with Chelsea in late February after convincingly seeing off Arsenal at the Emirates 2-0 – the first leg at Anfield a week earlier producing a 0-0 scoreline – and seeing runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City dropping two points after a gutsy Southampton earned themselves a 1-1 draw – Liverpool went into today’s game in South London knowing that a victory would put them nine points behind Man City, with a game in hand and still to play Pep Guardiola’s side in April at the Etihad.
And, indeed, Liverpool started the game at Selhurst Park seemingly aware that the Southampton result had shown Manchester City are vulnerable and that, if the Reds were to go on a spectacular run of wins – like the one that won them the title two years ago – then the title race might not be over after all.
Crisp passing, movement, chances, with Curtis Jones starring, characterised the first 35 minutes for Liverpool, when it looked as if the Reds might repeat last year’s 7-0 demolition of the Eagles.
Thus, on seven minutes, the outstanding Andy Robertson swung in a corner which found Virgil van Dijk all alone five yards out – the Palace defenders having run into each other – and he powered the ball with his forehead into the back of Vicente Guaita’s net.
Palace looked at sixes and sevens and Liverpool came forward relentlessly, looking as if they were going to score every time. Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, having missed a good chance on the far post earlier made up for squandering this chance by, on 32 minutes, finding himself in a similar position after a tremendous cross by Roberston and this time making no mistake, calmly slotting the ball into the back of the net.
Inexplicably, however, just when you thought Oxlade Chamberlain’s goal would deflate the Eagles and allow Liverpool to run riot, complacency seems to have affected the Reds, particularly the centre backs, where van Dijk’s determination to play the game at his pace was being challenged by Palace’s rapid and dogged attackers. Alisson Becker was called into action several times to keep Liverpool’s lead in tact before half time.
Maintaining momentum from the last 15 minutes of the first half, Crystal Palace continued to put Liverpool under pressure and contrive to find a way back into the game.
Deservedly, on 55 minutes, Palace’s resolve and confidence paid off, when a through ball split the Liverpool defence, stranding Joel Matip and van Dijk and leaving Mateta to square the pass for Edouard, who tapped into the empty net.
From here on in, the game was characterised by Palace’s dominance and threat. The Eagles created several good chances that produced a string of outstanding saves from man-of-the-match Alisson to keep Liverpool ahead.
Still, on 85 minutes, when the likeliest outcome remained a Palace equaliser, an extraordinary 60-yard cross-field pass from Trent Alexander Arnold was chested down and into the area by Diogo Jota who, despite the ball running away from him, was clattered into by the onrushing Guaita.
Initially, referee Kevin Friend didn’t see a foul in the collision between striker and keeper but, after VAR suggested he take a look at the pitch side monitor, the referee altered his opinion and gave Liverpool a spot kick.
Fabinho, having scored three goals in his last four games, stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way. Game over.
Next up for Liverpool is a home tie against Cardiff City on 6 February in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. The Bluebirds are languishing in the lower depths of the Championship, so Jurgen Klopp will no doubt make several changes to the Reds lineup.
By the time Liverpool play again in the Premier League – on 10 February against Leicester at Anfield – not only will Mo Salah, Naby Keita and Sadio Mané be back from the Africa Cup of Nations but so will long-term injuries Harvey Elliott, Thiago Alcantara and Divock Origi.
Liverpool will need to improve – particularly at the back – if they are to win any of the four competitions they’re still in – Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup – but there’s no reason to doubt that the Reds are capable of a run of form that will bring them glory and silverware.
