Liverpool (& Man City ) prove good little ’uns can beat good big ’uns

SIZE ISN’T EVERYTHING AND TOP TWO SHOW THAT SMALL AND FAST IS BEAUTIFUL

LIVERPOOL aim to scale new heights this season... with a team of pint-sized stars.

Jurgen Klopp’s starting XI that beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night had just two outfield players over 6ft, and six who were 5ft 8in or smaller.

Only Manchester City this season will come close to laying claim to a smaller team – yet the two sides occupy the top two places in the Premier League table.

Palace, despite their obvious height advantage, did not create a single clear-cut chance, nor trouble new keeper Alisson. It was the same with West Ham a week earlier.

A lack of height has always been looked upon as a weakness in the Premier League but Liverpool and City are showing that it doesn’t have to be if you keep possession and defend diligently at set-pieces.

Liverpool have the best record in the league for goals and shots conceded, along with clean sheets...and you don’t have to look far to understand why.

Since he arrived at Anfield, centre-half Virgil van Dijk has more clean sheets than any other Premier League defender.

At Palace the Reds may have been dwarfed but Van Dijk, along with the other two players over 6ft, Joe Gomez and Alisson, was key in dealing with the high ball.

The big-money new boys allow Klopp to play the game he wants, even in a league which used to covet height.

The key, the German manager has explained, is getting the right people on the end of every long ball.

“There is not just one player responsible – we have to have the right formation around setpieces,” he said.

“Set-pieces are different in England.

“We were not taller than West Ham or Palace, quite the opposite, and that is where we have to be organised to defend set-pieces. It is not solely about Alisson, but the whole team.”

Alisson makes a huge difference, though. He caught corners at Selhurst Park, something no Reds keeper has done in a long time.

And when he did not come off his line, Van Dijk headed away, as he did in the final minute to set up the break for Sadio Mane’s goal.

The presence of both could be huge to Liverpool this season, prompting Klopp to say: “Quality costs, like with cars. That’s why we paid it (the money).”

What he did not say was that Liverpool needed height with that quality in two pivotal positions and, with Van Dijk and Alisson both 6ft 4in, they have it. If it justifies the growing hype and delivers the title, then the £140m on two players will be money well spent.

And the revolution Klopp and City boss Pep Guardiola are leading will be more than just tactical. It will be physical too.

Bernardo Silva 5ft 8in David Silva 5ft 7in Aguero 5ft 8in Jesus 5ft 9in Mendy 6ft 0in Gomez 6ft 2in LIVERPOOL Alexanderarnold 5ft 9in Firmino 5ft 9in Lallana 5ft 8in MANCHESTER CITY Mane 5ft 7in Salah 5ft 7in LUKA MILIVOJEVIC revealed Mo Salah refused to back down in the row over Liverpool’s controversial penalty.Crystal Palace were fuming after Mamadou Sakho’s contact on Salah brought a spot-kick on Monday night.Eagles skipper Milivojevic (right) said: “I told Salah, ‘say to the referee it was not a penalty’. But he said, ‘it was’.“I did not see the contact on Salah but he fell and for the referee it was a penalty.” Van Dijk 6ft 4in