Topic: PL: Palace 0 v 7 (seven) LFC Taki 3' Mane 36' Bobby 45' 68' Hendo 51' Mo 80' 83'

[jillcwhomever]

Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, 19 December 2020, 12:30 PM
vs

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This meeting can never be discussed without remembering that night in 2014, even nicknamed 'Crystanbul', and has its place in history as one of the two games that cost us the title six years ago. The game and its after-effects have left a sour taste in the minds of the involved Liverpool staff, players and all the fans and has been long considered a taboo topic to discuss. However, on the wake of last season's title winning exploits and the eventual successes, it is now easier for us to think of that season and remember it despite the way it all ended. I hope time has healed the wounds for Stevie and Luis (these seemed to be the most affected for different reasons) and others involved and are now able to look back for all the good times we've have had in that season.

Crystal Palace hasn't been an easy fixture for us despite our recent wins against them. We have won this fixture in the last 3 seasons.
 
In 2017-18, Palace took an early lead and gave us a difficult match. We were unable to break through their defense for long spells, and the equalizer came early in the second half when Mane tapped in a cut-back from Milner. We had to wait until the 84th minute to create a big chance, where Trent and Ox combined to put in a cross that looped to Robbo, who sent in a low ball to Salah. Salah controlled and it ended up in the back of the net.

In 2018-19, it was yet another game where it was difficult to break down Palace. We had to wait till the end of first half to get a penalty where Salah was impeded and Milner tucked it away. We then tried and tried, but couldn't break them down until a counter involving Salah and Mane resulted in Mane rounding the keeper and scoring in the 90th minute to give us all three points.

In 2019-20, it was yet another humdinger where we had Mane slotting home in the 49th minute with a shot that did not have a clean connection, but bounced in off the post. Palace had a goal chalked off by VAR for a foul. We then conceded a goal to Zaha in the 82nd minute and it looked like one of those days until Bobby, who was one of our clutch players in the last couple of seasons, popped up in the 85th minute and scored off a rebound from a corner.

Liverpool are considered one of the favourites for this season's Premier League, although multiple injuries have made it a bit thin in terms of options. The Champions are still sitting pretty at the top of the table, following an important win at Anfield against contenders Tottenham. A win here could help maintain or extend that lead at the top of the table.

Crystal Palace have been finishing consistently in mid/lower-mid table recently. They've finished 11th, 12th and 14th in the last three seasons and are sitting at 12th again this season. They are known to be a bit of a trouble maker for the big boys, so Liverpool need to be at their full flow to beat the mid/low block of Palace.

The last 5 games of both sides go like this (recent games first)

Crystal Palace - D D W L L
Liverpool - W D W D W

Liverpool have won the Home games in that streak and drawn the Away games. This is an important opportunity and in some ways a necessity to improve the Away form. Crystal Palace have had 1 big win against 10 men West Brom, but barring their game against Spurs, their form has been concerning. However, considering their game against Spurs, they may be expected to turn up against Liverpool yet again. They are expected to do what they do best - sit back with a low/mid block and then counter-attack through Eze, Zaha and Schlupp. The challenge will be to keep a lot of the ball, leave little space for counters and then show our superiority through our creativity.

Joe Gomez and Virgil Van Dijk are out for the foreseeable future. Milner, Thiago and Xherdan Shaqiri, Jota and Tsimikas are still injured and unavailable. However, the return of Keita and Ox and the possible return of Matip could be a boost for the side.

Sakho, Kelly and Wickham are ruled out due to injuries as major absences and Benteke will remain suspended for the game following his sending off against West Ham United.

Just one change predicted in the lineup if Matip is fit. He comes in for Rhys Williams, who was excellent against Spurs. For Rhys Williams, stepping in for one of the senior CBs when they're unavailable and churning these mature performances is the main target for his development. Curtis Jones is coming along nicely as a starter in this squad and he has the tools to follow Trent's path in his development.

[TepidT2O]

I detest the smell of owl feathers in the morning

[jillcwhomever]

Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Fabinho, Robertson; Wijnaldum, Henderson, Keita; Minamino, Firmino, Mane.
Substitutes: Adrian, Kelleher, R Williams, Phillips, N Williams, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jones, Salah, Origi.

Crystal Palace (4-4-2) Guaita; Clyne, Kouyate, Cahill, van Aanholt; Schlupp, Milivojevic, McArthur, Eze; Zaha, Ayew.
Substitutes: Butland, Ward, Tomkins, Dann, Mitchell, Townsend, McCarthy, Riedewald, Batshuayi.

[BobPaisley3]

Players out and kick off imminent.

[BobPaisley3]

And we’re underway as Jordan kicks off

[BobPaisley3]

2 Bobby puts a low cross in, easily dealt with

[BobPaisley3]

1-0 Minamino

[BobPaisley3]

Decent ball into the box from Trent, little combination with mane and Minamino smashes it into the corner.

[Rush 82]

Takiiiiiiiiii

[TepidT2O]

YES

WELL IN LAD

[TepidT2O]

[BobPaisley3]

5 Robbo swings in a cross but Sadio can’t get a good connection on the header and it drifts away. We’ve started well, very decent possession.

[BobPaisley3]

6 Brilliant from Fab. One v one against Zaha but muscles him away from the box

[BobPaisley3]

8 Although we’ve dominated, Palace look a threat on the break. Matip does well to cut out a chance and it’s a corner. We clear

[BobPaisley3]

12 Zaha puts a wonderful ball across the box and Fab manages to poke it out for a corner as Ayew waited for the tap in.

[Rush 82]

12 Zaha puts a wonderful ball across the box and Fab manages to poke it out for a corner as Ayew waited for the tap in.

Palace remain lively - we'll need to weather the storm and, hopefully, take advantage of the space they're leaving behind to bang in a few more.

They'll run out of energy though - it's not their normal game.

[BobPaisley3]

Over to Tepid

[TepidT2O]

15 some palace pressure, but we’ve coped well so far.  They are looking to play on the break like Spurs but with less pressure on the ball.

Keita with a really good interception in midfield

[TepidT2O]

16 a Robertson clearance skews to a packs player. Alison with a  clearance before they get it.

McArthur tries to chip Alison but it’s a poor effort 

[BobPaisley3]

Keita, too many options.

[jillcwhomever]

YESSSS great finish. Absolutely delighted for Minamino

[TepidT2O]

20 free kick to palace out wide


We get it clear after a bit of a scuffle

[jillcwhomever]

Taki lad!

[BobPaisley3]

We’re hanging on here

[Rush 82]

Palace getting into good areas.

Ayew and Zaha are a genuine nuisance down our right.

We haven't spent any significant time In their third.

[TepidT2O]

22 our passing has been a bit sloppy which is helping palace get on the ball

And Ayew misses one in the area...  a swing and a miss!  (Or did he leave it?)

[TepidT2O]

23 bloody hell

Free in the area and he picks out no one...


So close to a tap in.  Ayew saved us

[Rush 82]

Alison puts yet another striker off by his mere presence- Ayew had no business trying to cut that back but shit the bed when 1 v 1 with the big man. 

[Rush 82]

22 our passing has been a bit sloppy which is helping palace get on the ball

And Ayew misses one in the area...  a swing and a miss!  (Or did he leave it?)

Left it

[TepidT2O]

25 corner to the reds after a robbo cross is cleared


And the keeper takes it.

[TepidT2O]

28. Free kick to place for high feet. 35 yards out wide


And it’s headed straight at Alison by Ayew

[TepidT2O]

29 corner to the reds as Palace almost play Taki in!


Matip heads into the ground ... so close to being nodded there

[TepidT2O]

Over to Jill I hope!

[Rush 82]

Anyone else feel Matip looks a little laboured. Doesn’t seem to be moving that well to me, but might just be me

Might just be the way Matip sort of ambles that makes him look a bit stiff (of back) at times

I agree - in spite of that, watching Ayew and Zaha, I'm glad that Rhys isn't having to deal with them

[BobPaisley3]

Hendo to Mane the ball we’re looking for.

[Rush 82]

33' Loose touch by Robbo gives them the ball, but we recover and Hendo plays one over the top. Too deep for Sadio and Palace goalie collects.

[BobPaisley3]

Get in

[Rush 82]

35' Really long shadows across the pitch. We're up and wowowowow

Sadio spins and turns

Bobby fed him a clever little ball in amongst a scrum of legs - Sadio was on it like a flash, spun and buried it in the bottom right corner - Guaita didn't stand a chance.

Sadio will be happy with that break in his goal drought.

0-2

[BobPaisley3]

He’s two yards onside so a check is imminent.

[TepidT2O]