KOP FIRING Jurgen’s Reds can’t put BLANKS
LIVERPOOL added to their midweek misery with a dreary draw in south London as Jurgen Klopp’s men failed to spark again.
The Reds had hoped to bounce back quickly from the 5-2 mauling they were given by Real Madrid at Anfield on Tuesday.
And against a Crystal Palace side who had picked up just four points this calendar year prior to this game you would have expected them to.
But, not for the first time this season, they were a shadow of the side that has so royally entertained in recent seasons. And you have to go back to New
Year’s Eve for the last time they recorded a win on the road.
This result means they have won just two of their last seven Premier League games and that they must get a result against Wolves on Wednesday if they are to have any sort of bounce for next Sunday’s visit of the old enemy Manchester United.
Klopp (right) made four changes to the side which started against Real Madrid on Wednesday, going full belt and braces in midfield with James
Milner and Naby Keita coming in alongside Jordan Henderson.
On the left of the front three he brought Diogo Jota in for Darwin Nunez as well, for what was the Portuguese’s first Premier League start since the victory over Manchester City on October 16.
Having scored 21 goals for Liverpool last season, Jota is yet to register this time out in 11 appearances, and how they have missed his goals – and his energy – this campaign.
Klopp was looking for a reaction from his side to the 5-2 midweek defeat by the Spaniards but even with Jota looking to get on the front foot the lack of confidence was evident in those around him.
They had plenty of possession but the first notable opportunity fell to Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta, who should have worked Alisson much harder.
Jota’s first chance fell to him just outside the area but it was straight at Vicente Guaita.
Another soon after went down as a goal effort in the stats but, given it was a header a couple of yards from goal and he was standing on the byline, it shouldn’t have really.
It was the 13th time Liverpool have struck the woodwork in the Premier League this season and
when Mo Salah rattled the bar soon after the break with a good effort they drew level with Newcastle as the teams that have hit the frame the most.
The only time the visitors really looked like scoring in those first 45 minutes came from a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick.
Salah was the decoy, rolling it back to Alexander-Arnold, and the full-back let fly with a curling effort which looked to be heading on target but smacked skipper Henderson on the side of the head.
It was the home side who created the best chance of the half shortly after what had ultimately been a half-hearted attempt from Salah at the end of a good run.
Jeffrey Schlupp found himself in a good position as he cut in from the left, skinning AlexanderArnold, and he fed Mateta.
But the striker, leaning back, couldn’t keep his effort down from close range and it thumped the bar.
Klopp sent on Harvey Elliott to replace Keita at the break and there was more intensity about Liverpool.
Salah’s early effort put Palace on alert that there would be an extra zip about them in this half and Guaita had to push
Alexander-Arnold’s cross-shot over as well.
But it proved to be a false dawn and the game petered out past the hour mark for a draw that was a fair result for both sides.