Fighting Palace Fall 0-2 At Selhurst Park

Sports - Football - Premier League - PAL 0:2 LIV

Liverpool ended up 0-2 winners at Selhurst Park, thanks to a James Milner penalty (44') and injury-time goal from Sadio Mané (93'), but Crystal Palace certainly did not go down without a fight on Monday night.

Roy Hodgson was left fuming with some of the referee Michael Oliver’s decisions, including the Reds’ spot kick (44’) and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s straight red card (75’). 

Jürgen Klopp was a very relieved and the much happier boss watching his side scrape and scratch out a win on the road.

Gulp, believe me when I say my heart was in my mouth for most of the match, it was so tense! Not an easy win, but all three points went to the Reds.

Here are my live match notes as it happened last night:

Both sides name unchanged sides from their wins on the season opening weekend, click here to read my Picks Of The Week 1, see the full line ups at the bottom of this blog.

It’s Liverpool’s 73rd Premier League game on a Monday, the most of any side.

15’ Action Areas: PAL 24%-68%-8% LIV, the Reds dominating, but not getting much from it.

25’ All LFC, till Keita giveaway, after Salah missed a couple of clear chances, Townsend's high powerful shot rises and dips over Alisson from outside the box, to come off the crossbar, first corner to the home side. CLOSE ONE!

28’ Hennessey saves Keita attempt on his near post, first Liverpool corner.

31’ Schlupp chance wide, for all the Red possession, Palace had the better, closer chances. Very important tackle by Gomez against Zaha on another counter!

34’ Possession: PAL 35%-65% LIV

35’ Robertson sends a chance high into the sky from just inside the box.

42’ first booking goes to van Aanholt for his scissor tackle on Milner who got away with a very physical challenge unnoticed shortly before.

44’ PENALTY! Salah down against Sakho, tangle and tackle, grabbing the shirt, kicking out more than once, clumsy challenge, theatrical fall but Michael Oliver had a perfect view.

45’ Milner takes AND SCORES! Hennessey dived the other way, the ball hits the back of the net!

One minute added on, home fans and team furious, boos all round, HT 0-1, better and closer chances for the hosts, however the dominating but wasteful visitors are leading from the spot.

Milner’s last 9 goals have all come from the spot, totalling 49 career PL goals and the Red skipper has not been on the losing side in any of the previous 47 PL games in which he has scored.

49’ Salah overruns, Keita puts it wide, a couple of chances wasted. The Egyptian king is not at his best so far, could and should have netted a couple at least.

52’ Alexander-Arnold booked for bringing down Zaha, failing against the forward’s fine run and trickery.

53’ Alisson saves Milivojevic’s top free kick, curling up and around the wall, punched away to the keeper’s left with both gloves.

55’ Palace corner, Selhurst Park getting louder, the home side have their tails up, Benteke with a high leap and powerful header, Alisson gets down to save it, the ref has whistled anyway. The Reds are under pressure, two attempts on target for the home side this half!

59’ 2nd half possession PAL 65%-35% LIV, Hodgson said something right at the break, the hosts are much more in the game since the restart!!!

67’ Henderson replaces Milner, Liverpool pushing and bossing a bit more again, but the skipper looked more and more frustrated, giving away a couple of reckless fouls. Benteke wasted a good chance high and wide earlier.

70’ Salah slips in the box, offside anyway.

71’ Sorloth replaces Benteke, that change was long overdue, it has not been a good game for the former Liverpool forward.

73’ Alisson collects Zaha's low shot, could’ve been fooled and beaten there by his own defender, but wasn’t.

75’ Salah breaks, runs solo, youngster Wan-Bissaka, who has had a brill match, takes the Egyptian down from behind, he was the last man. Michael Oliver doesn’t hesitate. STRAIGHT RED, Palace down to ten men for the last quarter of an hour.

77’ The free kick is right on the edge of the box, Salah takes, it comes off the wall and goes out for a corner, Hennessey was beaten there, but punches the corner clear and catches the rebound.

79’ Hodgson takes Townsend off, who has had the best chances, Ward replaces him.

80’ Sakho cooly chests the ball to his keeper Hennessey, Liverpool in command.

81’ Low shot by Mané off Salah in the box, Hennessey blocks and collects kneeling down.

82’ Penalty shout for Palace against Wijnaldum, did he get the ball cleanly? Yep, good tackle on McArthur actually.

83’ Meyer comes on for Schlupp, last change by Hodgson.

84’ Hennessey punches over Salah’s attempt, collects the resulting corner, keeping the home side’s glimmer of hope alive.

85’ Zaha pass across the box, finds no one... Gulp...

87’ Lallana comes on for Keita after an impressive performance.

90’ Firmino goes down in the box against a fine tackle by Tomkins, but he is outside the box, so, play continues, ten against ten.

FOUR minutes added on.

Free kick to Palace on the right, Lallana brought down Ward... Tense last seconds... Corner to the home side... Liverpool counter! Salah run, pass to Mané who keeps balance and composure to stay up and going past defender and keeper and scores! 0-2 and relief for the Reds!

Firmino is replaced by Sturridge in the final seconds.

Palace win another corner but it ends 0-2!!! Not top but strong and stubborn performance by the Reds, especially new signings Alisson and Keita impressed, and of course MOTM van Dijk! Another clean sheet and it's the first time under Klopp the Reds have won the first two opening games of the season! BOOM!

Liverpool Goals: Milner pen 45’ & Mané 93’. 

HT Stats: PAL 0-1 LIV

Possession: 32.2%-67.8%

Shots: 3-7

On target: 0-2

Offside: 1-1

Corners: 1-1

Fouls: 4-7

Bookings: 1-0

FT Stats: PAL 0-2 LIV

Possession: 36.9%-63.1%

Shots: 8-16

On target: 2-6

Offside: 2-2

Corners: 6-7

Fouls: 6-13

Bookings: 1-1

Red cards: 1-0

Crystal Palace Team: 13 Hennessey; 29 Wan-Bissaka (sent off 75’), 5 Tomkins, 12 Sakho, 3 van Aanholt (booked 42’); 15 Schlupp (7 Meyer 83’), 18 McArthur, 4 Milivojevic (c), 10 Townsend (2 Ward 72’); 11 Zaha, 17 Benteke (9 Sørloth 71’). 4-4-2

Subs not used: 31 Guaita, 8 Kouyaté, 14 Ayew, 34 Kelly.

Liverpool Team: 13 Alisson; 66 Alexander-Arnold (booked 52’), 4 Van Dijk, 12 Gomez, 26 Robertson; 8 Keita (20 Lallana 87’), 5 Wijnaldum, 7 Milner (c) (14 Henderson 67’); 11 Salah, 9 Firmino (15 Sturridge 94’), 10 Mané. 4-3-3

Subs not used: 22 Mignolet, 18 Moreno, 23 Shaqiri, 32 Matip.

Referee: Michael Oliver

Man of the match: Virgil van Dijk

Ground: Selhurst Park

Attendance: 25,750

Click here for my last LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, Twitter and Sky Sports app and coverage.

Salah Seals Reds Comeback at Selhurst Park

Sports - Football - Premier League - CPFC 1:2 LFC

Liverpool bagged all three points against Crystal Palace thanks to top scorer Mohamed Salah's late winner after a less convincing performance by the Reds in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off at Selhurst Park.

Click here for my ByTheMinute match coverage.

It was Jürgen Klopp's 100th Premier League match in charge, his record being W54 D28 L18 and seeing 324 goals with this result.

Only Manuel Pellegrini saw more goals in his first 100 PL games with Manchester City (329).

With this win, the Reds completed the double over the London side for the first time since 1997-98.

Palace skipper Luka Milivojevic put the home side ahead from the spot after 12:26 minutes, following Loris Karius barging into Wilfried Zaha.

It wasn't the start the visitors wanted and the hosts kept frustrating the hell out of the Reds.

Sadio Mané was booked for his overdramatised diving antiques just over halfway through the first half.

Referee Neil Swarbrick took his time, replays showing James McArthur had made no contact, instead of making something of the chance, with the ball in the box, the Senegalese decided to go down.

The Eagles fans booed him on after that, he headed the ball in minutes later, to be flagged offside.

Just before the break, Mané's downward header was kept out well by Wayne Hennessey.

The interval saw no changes, former Reds boss Roy Hodgson surely the happier with his side's stubborn display against the shaky visitors.

But it didn't last long, four minutes after the restart Mané levelled from close range fed by James Milner from the left.

Former Liverpool forward Christian Benteke missed a couple of sitters wide, making life too easy for Karius after the keeper's shaky start.

Mané was lucky to escape a second caution and sending off with just under half an hour to go when he was involved in a bit of a tangle and rumble and picked up the ball after falling down once again.

A free kick was given against the number 19, but nothing further, Palace were not happy, Klopp took him off seconds later.

Karius made a cracking save denying Patrick van Aanholt, keeping out a nice left footed free kick into the top left corner, it stayed 1-1.

Sub Adam Lallana didn't last long, being replaced by Dejan Lovren just a few minutes after coming on for Georginio Wijnaldum.

Palace kept pushing but were unable to release a shot nor get anything on target.

Momo made it 1-2 with his 29th league goal of the season in the 84th minute.

The PL top scorer collected and took the shot patiently inside the box, netting from close range into the bottom left corner, assisted nicely by man of the match Andy Robertson from the left.

The Egyptian is now just three goals short of breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's 2007-08 Premier League scoring record.

With this defeat, Palace have lost each of their last four home games against Liverpool in all competitions and drop down to 17th just two points above the drop zone.

Three points keeps LFC comfy in third, five points ahead of Tottenham in fourth and only two points behind United in second, but both have games in hand.

And this match was definitely not a confidence gainer for the Reds ahead of their Champions League quarter final first leg clash against Manchester City on Wednesday.

No matter what Klopp tries to blame it on, criticising the ref or whatever, the Reds were just not good enough most of the match and have to do much better to have a hint of a chance to progress against the league leaders.

Palace Goal: Milivojevic pen 13'.

Liverpool Goals: Mané 49' & Salah 84'.

HT Stats: PAL 1-0 LIV
Possession: 24%-76%
Shots: 2-12
On target: 2-4
Corners: 1-4
Fouls: 4-5
Yellow cards: 2-2

FT Stats: PAL 1-2 LIV
Possession: 30%-70%
Shots: 6-16
On target: 3-6
Corners: 4-6
Fouls: 6-8
Yellow cards: 2-2

CPFC Team: 13 Hennessey; 3 van Aanholt, 12 Sakho, 34 Kelly, 29 Wan-Bissaka (24 Fosu-Mensah 88'); 7 Cabaye (8 Loftus-Cheek 73'), 4 Milivoyevic (c), 18 McArthur (booked 45'); 11 Zaha, 17 Benteke (booked 38'), 10 Townsend. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 14 Lee Chung-yong, 16 Cavilieri, 23 Souaré, 24 Delaney, 44 Riedewald.

LFC Team: 1 Karius (booked 12'); 26 Robertson, 4 van Dijk, 32 Matip, 66 Alexander-Arnold; 5 Wijnaldum (20 Lallana 65' (6 Lovren 70')), 14 Henderson (c), 7 Milner; 19 Mané (booked 24') (21 Oxlade-Chamberlain 64'), 9 Firmino, 11 Salah. 4-3-3
Subs not used: 2 Clyne, 18 Moreno, 22 Mignolet, 28 Ings.

Referee: Neil Swarbrick
Man of the match: Andy Robertson
Ground: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 25,807

Click here for my previous LFC match report.

All pictures, facts and stats were taken from the BBC match report, MOTD, Twitter and Sky Sports coverage.

Week 3: Premier League Action Summary

Sports - Football - Premier League - Action Summary - Week 3

The third week of action saw 9 games, only 13 goals, 4 in the first half, 9 in the second half, 1 in injury time; 208 attempts, 91 on target and 87 corners; 188 fouls, 32 bookings, 1 red card, 1 penalty scored.

Most scored: At Selhurst Park (4 goals), by Crystal Palace (3 goals).

Top creators: Newcastle at St James Park (24 attempts, 9 on target, 13 corners).

Main offenders: Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield with 30 fouls and 6 bookings between them; Sunderland with the only sending off of the weekend at Selhurst Park (John O'Shea).

Manchester City 2-0 Hull City:

An Alvaro Negredo header and quality Yaya Toure free kick in the last half hour meant heartbreak for Hull City losing 2-0 to Manchester City after a competitive encounter at the Etihad Stadium. The Tigers were on fire leaving the home side behind and trying to catch up. Joe Hart was beaten by Robert Koren's diagonal smacker before it went just wide. Sone Aluko put a golden chance wide before Danny Graham had a goal correctly ruled out for offside for the visitors. It was painful to watch for Manuel Pellegrini seeing his side creating more misses and conceding more chances to the visitors with David Silva's free kick going just wide before Joleon Lescott pulled a flying save out of Allan McGregor. The deadlock was finally broken against the run of play when Pablo Zabaleta's replacement Negredo planted a header into the back of the net, heartbreak for Steve Bruce's men. And to add salt to the wound, Toure doubled the score with a smacking free kick from about 18 yards out, off the bar and in, sealing a less-than convincing win for the former champions against the promoted side.

Cardiff 0-0 Everton:

Everton had to settle for a point in a goalless draw at the Cardiff City Stadium, very much contrasting to the win against Manchester City last week. In a flat and tough encounter, Roberto Martinez's men were held back and frustrated by a defiant and dominant home side. The Bluebirds definitely created more chances and pressure but were lucky not to concede a penalty when Gary Medel brought down Leighton Baines in the box, referee Phil Dowd waving play on. To cap the frustrating afternoon for the Toffees, Kevin Mirallas missed two golden chances, including one easy tap-in late on and Cardiff keeper David Marshall kept out a deflected Nikica Jelavic header. The result means Martinez remains unbeaten in the Premier League since taking over at Goodison Park, but the Spaniard will not be happy after seeing his side leave Wales with their third-successive draw of the season.

Newcastle 1-0 Fulham:

Hatem Ben Arfa's powerful left-footed strike ended Newcastle's wait for their first Premier League home goal of the season beating Fulham 1-0 at St James' Park and securing their first league win of the campaign. The home side saw chances deflected and pressure blocked out well by the visitors. Adel Taarabt pulled a great save out of Tim Krul and Papiss Cisse headed against the cross bar for the Cottagers. Yoan Gouffran and Yohan Cabaye missed most chances for the Toons, not lastly thanks to Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale who was kept busy till the end and produced some top-draw saves. But in the end, it was all for nothing as Ben Arfa's smacker from the edge of the box four minutes from time sealed a home win, to the relief of boss Alan Pardew.

Norwich 1-0 Southampton:

The Canaries recorded their first Premier League win of the season against Southampton at Carrow Road thanks to teenager Nathan Redmond's first goal of the season. The 19-year-old scored a low shot from outside the box past Saints goalkeeper Artur Boruc into the near corner after a fine run from the halfway line and cheeky step-overs cutting in from the left. Mauricio Pochettino felt aggrieved and rightly so after seeing his side fail to score including captain Adam Lallana's hit against the post and a penalty not given for Bradley Johnson's handball in the first half. However, the visitors were lucky to survive an onslaught including a wide hit by Redmond, a Robert Snodgrass free kick flicked on by Ricky van Wolfswinkel causing ping-pong havoc in the box and keeping both Calum Chambers and Boruc busy. The prior was involved in a couple of incidents where the home side appealed for handball, but all penalty appeals were ignored. Norwich keeper John Ruddy was scared a couple of times but denied both Rickie Lambert and Dani Osvaldo before Redmond's strike put the hosts ahead in the 69th minute. The Saints are used to keeping their goals late this season but were unable to force an equaliser as Chris Hughton's men secured all three points.

West Ham 0-1 Stoke City:

Jermaine Pennant ended his 864-day wait to find his name on the scoreboard for the first time since 2011 after a superb curled free kick gave Stoke the lead and win against a lacklustre West Ham side at Upton Park. The substitute's curled effort was enough to hand Mark Hughes' s men their second Premier League win on the trot. Hammers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had produced a fine double-save in the first half to keep his side in the contest, but the Potters stayed in control for most of the game in a disappointing encounter. Sam Allardyce's side rarely threatened and will be counting down the days until they can welcome injured striker Andy Carroll back onto the pitch. The defeat was the Hammers' first at home since February and Pennant's effort was their first league goal conceded this season.

Crystal Palace 3-1 Sunderland:

Two late goals by Dwight Gayle and substitute Stuart O'Keefe sealed victory for Crystal Palace as they beat Sunderland 3-1 at Selhurst Park. The Black Cats poor start to the campaign continued as they saw their side crumble to pieces after John O'Shea saw red for his tackle on Gayle who converted the resulting penalty sending the ball underneath the body of Sunderland goalkeeper Keiren Westwood. Danny Gabbidon had given Ian Holloway's men the lead from close range off a corner early on in the match, recording his first goal in 116 Premier League appearances, before Steven Fletcher equalised for the visitors with an unmarked diagonal header into the left corner of the net, leaving goalkeeper Julian Speroni stranded just past the hour mark. But it all went downhill from there for Paulo Di Canio's side, losing one man and two goals in the final 12 minutes.

Liverpool 1-0 Manchester United:

Liverpool continued their 100% start to the season with their third 1-0 win on the trot, this time against arch rivals Manchester United at Anfield adding to the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Bill Shankly's birth. Birthday boy Daniel Sturridge turned in Daniel Agger's header off a corner after just over three minutes, his third consecutive match winner for the Merseysiders, to give the home side a blistering start against David Moyes' men. United were disjointed without injured Wayne Rooney, controlled and dominated by the home side for most of the first half. The Red Devils came back stronger after the interval, keeping Reds keeper Simon Mignolet busier, Robin van Persie and Ashley Young creating and producing most pressure and pulling save after save from the 25-year-old Belgian keeper. The £9m summer signing from Sunderland has yet to concede a Premier League goal this season and together with man-of-the-match Agger frustrated the hell out of RVP and co. This result ended United's unbeaten run of 13 Premier League away games, a record Brendan Rodgers' men were more than happy to put a stop to, handing them their best league start for 19 years.

West Brom 0-2 Swansea:

Swansea recorded their first Premier League win of the season against West Brom at the Hawthorns thanks to a goal in each half from Ben Davies and Pablo Hernandez. Both teams came into the game in poor form, the Baggies having won only one of their last 11 Premier League matches and yet to find the target this season whilst Swansea had just won two of their previous 13. The returning Nicolas Anelka went closest for Steve Clarke's men before the break, but a smacker from Davies gave the visitors the lead and him his only second-ever goal for the club. Michael Laudrup's men took over the game from there dominating the second half and sealing the win and three points thanks to Hernandez's first goal for the club from close range leaving West Brom rock bottom of the Premier League table.

Arsenal 1-0 Tottenham:

Olivier Giroud's fourth goal of the season handed Arsenal their fourth consecutive win since their opening day defeat to Aston Villa and sealed Tottenham's first defeat of the season at the Emirates. This absorbing encounter between the North London rivals was not exactly action-and-goal-packed as the last two 5-2 thrashes the Gunners enjoyed for the last couple of seasons. But Arsene Wenger will be more than chuffed to have beaten the (£105m) big spenders after all the criticism and taunts on his lack of activity on the player market. Andre Villas-Boas men created several good chances, Wojciech Szczesny stopping Jermain Defoe's deflected shot, but the home side were more dominant with more clear-cut attempts, Santi Cazorla coming close twice with clever free kicks whilst Giroud and Theo Walcott were both denied by Hugo Lloris. Both worked well together for the goal, the prior tucking in the latter's low cross at the near post to send Arsenal up to fourth in the Premier League. Tottenham have only won once at Arsenal since 1993 and this defeat showed what they might miss and have to expect without Gareth Bale, who sealed the deal and has joined Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee of £85.3m.