Mane grabs victory but Liverpool toil
It certainly was not pulsating, nor was it particularly convincing, but Liverpool have their first victory in the Premier League this season after beating an opponent they have struggled against historically, while fielding an under-strength side.
In choosing to make five changes ahead of the Champions League qualifying stage second-leg tie against Hoffenheim on Wednesday night, Jurgen Klopp called his decision “rotation”.
If this is a reflection of the quality beyond his first XI, there are causes for concern. This Liverpool win was a fortuitous one, ceded to them by Luka Milivojevic, whose mistake in front of the Kop afforded Sadio Mane with the type of opportunity he seldom misses.
Usually, the post-match words of Klopp provide entertainment but here, Frank de Boer’s were the most relevant. “If you concede a goal you want it to be because of the quality of Liverpool, and this was not the case,” the Crystal Palace manager said. “You could see they were frustrated. They had to play around us rather than through us.”
It might be true that Mane’s importance to Liverpool is greater than Philippe Coutinho’s. But if he goes to Barcelona, who will be there to serve the Senegalese forward?
Klopp focused on the positives. He was happy with Liverpool’s defensive performance, but that ignored a basic structural flaw of his team. The German chose two centre-backs in Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan, who are not comfortable in possession. This meant Jordan Henderson and James Milner had to drop deep to start Liverpool’s play from the back, and they are midfielders known for their industry, rather than their creativity.
Subsequently, Liverpool’s attackers were often found seeking possession near the halfway line, far from an area where they could cause damage. Until Mane’s intervention, that a Liverpool goal seemed most likely to come from their new left-back, Andrew Robertson, says everything about the type of threat Liverpool were posing.
The signing from Hull City was allowed time on the ball by Palace, but there remained a duty on him to use his freedoms effectively. On three occaThis sions in the first half he was involved in moves that nearly led to a Liverpool lead, the best of which involved a cross that eluded Wayne Hennessey, the Palace goalkeeper, and fell to Matip.
During his Liverpool career, Matip has been unconvincing in aerial defensive situations, so it was no surprise when he jumped too early to meet this header. The standard of finishing from both sides was poor. When Ruben Loftus-Cheek dribbled past Klavan, Palace’s opener was waiting to be scored. Leaning back, however, Christian Benteke fired over. It proved to be a costly miss. Palace remain winless. Liverpool get away with it. Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet 7; Gomez 6, Matip 6, Klavan 5, Robertson 7; Milner 6, Henderson 6, Wijnaldum 5 (Solanke 71); Mane 6, Sturridge 6 (Salah 60), Firmino 5 (Lovren, 89). Subs not used Karius (g), Can, Origi, Flanagan. Booked Henderson. Crystal Palace (3-5-2): Hennessey 6; Fosu-Mensah 5, Dann 6, Tomkins 6; Ward 5, Loftus-Cheek 6, Milivojevic 5 (Kaikai 77), Puncheon 6 (McArthur 73), Van Aanholt 5 (Schlupp 84); Townsend 5, Benteke 5. Subs not used Speroni (g), Cabaye, Lokilo, Kelly. Booked Puncheon, Van Aanholt. Referee Kevin Friend.