Reds dig in to find way through fog
“I KEEP reminding players that when you’re lost in a fog, you must stick together. Then you don’t get lost. If there’s a secret about Liverpool, that’s it.” – Bob Paisley.
If he was watching as Anfield paid him a heartfelt tribute, the greatest Liverpool manager of them all would have approved.
Not of the defending. Of course not. Not of the frenzied disorganisation at times either. But when the fog descended on Saturday, Paisley would have loved the reaction.
Crystal Palace caused problems, scoring three goals, which doubled the total conceded at Anfield this season, and could have won.
But they did not, because Jurgen Klopp’s side showed another quality to go with the defensive solidity and attacking efficiency that had previously been trademarks of their campaign. Team spirit.
And that, according to their manager (and Paisley, who won six league titles at Anfield) is what champions are made of.
“I know we are a really good team, but it is really not enough to be a good or a fantastic or even a world-class football team,” said Klopp.
“We are playing in a competition with a couple of world-class teams and hundreds of fantastic teams. So we have to make sure that we just fight in each game like it’s the last game and the boys do that.
“No one can question their character. I’m fine with 4-3, it feels like an important victory.”
Klopp is right. This felt like a moment when the Reds declared themselves as the real deal. They have always been contenders of course, but when it comes to it, do they have the bottle? Paisley’s sides were renowned for it, mental strength in adversity their calling card. And on a day when Liverpool celebrated what would have been his 100th birthday, it was fitting Klopp’s men tapped similar reserves.
They went down to a first-half sucker punch after Andros Townsend scored seconds after he should have been penalised for a handball and a penalty awarded. The home side responded with quick-fire goals after the break from Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino. That is when the fog came down, Palace equalising through James Tomkins and from there, the game was just insane.
Somehow, the Reds came through, thanks to a Salah tapin after Julian Speroni’s mistake, and then a wonderful Sadio Mane finish in injury-time after James Milner had seen red. Even then, Palace got one back when Max Meyer scored but Liverpool saw it through.
Palace boss Roy Hodgson was left to rue Liverpool’s crucial third from Speroni’s blunder. He said: “It’s an error which, for a 39-year-old who has not played for a year and a half, it’s very cruel.”
LIVERPOOL (4-2-3-1): Alisson 6; Milner 7, Matip 6, Van Dijk 6, Robertson 7; Henderson 6, Fabinho 7; Mane 7, Firmino 7, Keita 5 (Shaqiri 71,6); Salah 8. Booked: Milner. Sent off: Milner 89. Goals: Salah 46, 75, Firmino 53, Mane 90. NEXT UP: Leicester (h), PL Jan 30. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-5-1): Speroni 4; Wan-Bissaka 7, Tomkins 7, Sakho 5, Van Aanholt 7; Townsend 7, McArthur 6 (Meyer 81), Milivojevic 6, Kouyate 7 (Schlupp 76), Zaha 7; Ayew 6 (Wickham 81). Booked: Ayew. Goals: Townsend 34, Tomkins 65, Meyer 90. NEXT UP: Tottenham (h), FAC Sun.
Referee: J Moss (Co Durham).