OPINION
Liverpool built on their victory over Brighton & Hove Albion last time out with a stunning 4-3 victory over Crystal Palace in a topsy-turvy affair at Anfield on Saturday.
The two teams went head to head for almost the entirety of the second half, with six of the game’s seven goals occurring after the break.
Andros Townsend opened the scoring against the run of play for the visitors in the first half, only for Mohamed Salah to equalise almost straight away once the second period began. Roberto Firmino then put the hosts ahead before James Tomkins replied for Palace. Salah and Sadio Mane would then score to secure victory for the Reds, despite Max Meyer’s late consolation.
As usual there is much to be gleaned from the contest, and Live4Liverpool has identified three things that can be learned from Liverpool’s crazy victory over Palace.
An utterly bonkers affair
This game was completely insane. This sort of match harked back to the Liverpool of last season, who were content for you to score three as long as they bagged four.
That hasn’t been the side’s modus operandi this campaign, of course, and so it was surprising to see Jurgen Klopp’s team engaged in such a wild back and forth contest. The Liverpool team who had been so solid defensively this term was nowhere to be found on Saturday.
While pleasing for the neutral, this will have been a stressful experience for those fans on Merseyside. Luckily Mane got the decisive goal as the Reds passed another test in their road to the Premier League title.
Henderson shuts the doubters up
Jordan Henderson gets a lot of stick from fans, both of Liverpool and of other teams. They claim he’s a fraud who does nothing and contributes little to his team beyond sideways passes and a lot of running around.
The polarising figure silenced his critics against Palace with an all-action display. He was excellent in all aspects of the game, helping out defensively but, crucially, spurring his team on in an attacking sense.
He was the midfielder who was providing the impetus in the first half, picking the ball up and looking to move it forward. He wanted to make things happen and his performance was a delight to watch.
Klopp has a right back conundrum
Klopp currently has his two primary options at right back, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez, out injured, while he shipped another one out on loan to Bournemouth in the form of Nathaniel Clyne.
The German might be regretting that last decision right about now. Midfielder James Milner lined up at right back against Palace, but was given his marching orders late on for a second bookable defence.
Klopp now has to consider what he’s going to do at the position in the immediate future. He could move another midfielder, in Fabinho, into the position, or he could go for teenager Rafael Camacho. Either way, the situation isn’t ideal for the Reds boss.
