Liverpool’s ultimate Premier League match earlier than the worldwide break resulted in a 1-0 win to maintain us high of the league – but it surely didn’t come with out a value.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool
Premier League (7), Selhurst Park
October 5, 2024
Aim: Jota 9′
4 modifications: Rotation or reward?
Arne Slot opted for 4 modifications to his beginning lineup at Palace, regardless of this being the final match for the Reds earlier than one other worldwide break.
This hasn’t been the supervisor’s behavior up to now, which makes it an attention-grabbing speaking level in itself – however throughout the alterations is the query of why.
Diogo Jota in for Darwin Nunez is routine, having been the commonly beginning No. 9, however there’s an argument that Curtis Jones and Cody Gakpo had been in on benefit, slightly than merely rotational functions, after very robust current showings – although it was truly the Dutchman and Kostas Tsimikas, the fourth participant coming in, who Slot highlighted pre-match.
“Cody and Kostas speaks for itself, I feel they’ve completed excellent each time they’ve performed,” he mentioned – whereas hinting Jones was actually nonetheless in audition mode, maybe after not seeing sufficient of him as a consequence of an early-season harm.
“It’s an excellent second for Curtis to begin […] he’s not going to go [away] for internationals so it’s good for him to have a recreation as nicely.
“It’s additionally good for us to have greater than solely three midfielders, so let’s see at the moment how Curtis is doing.”
From that perspective, Jones definitely walked the stroll by way of effort, trade and prepared to imitate the off-ball endeavours of Dominik Szoboszlai, although maybe an absence of minutes confirmed with too many fouls and never fairly the correct finish ball.
Tsimikas is in fact an odd and inconsistent participant, however his first half at Selhurst was his better of the season, defensively diligent and offensively concerned, together with the pre-assist cross for the opener.
Simon Hooper, king of ineptitude
It’s pretty uncommon a referee can come out of a recreation being equally lamented by each units of supporters, however Simon Hooper really is one thing of a one-off, and an actual contender for the worst ref within the high flight since Lee Mason’s long-overdue demise and departure.
Oddly, Palace followers had no challenge with him handing them a sequence of soppy first-half free-kicks and allotting playing cards to the visiting gamers prefer it was Christmas – however they definitely didn’t prefer it when the tables had been turned after the break.
A part of it’s comprehensible – six yellow playing cards in a recreation which wasn’t precisely a violent affair for the primary hour – however they shortly turned up the warmth on Hooper.
Contemporary from calling him a ‘Scouser within the black’, they moved on to ‘not match to referee’ quickly after.
Liverpool followers had been extra direct – they gave him an enormous cheer when, at concerning the sixth time of asking, he lastly whistled for a foul on Mohamed Salah.
A very horrible official.
One other Alisson harm!
There has usually been loads of discuss Alisson‘s harm document and the quantity we’ve wanted Caoimhin Kelleher as a second-choice goalkeeper – however the Irishman has had his personal absences too.
That has beforehand meant Adrian received recreation time when followers least anticipated (or wished) it, however now the third in line is Vitezslav Jaros and the teen received to make his senior Reds bow after Ali – you guessed it – picked up one other harm.
This time it was a hamstring judging by the Brazilian’s response, and this after a superb exhibiting.
At the least a part of that restoration goes to be throughout a two-week worldwide break, but it surely might be double that point or extra he’s absent for.
Jaros made a giant save from Eberechi Eze and raced out to assemble a harmful by way of ball too – a stable begin.
Jota blowing cold and warm
Slot made the purpose within the buildup to the sport, after one other query about Nunez, that Jota hadn’t been scoring too many both and that the staff needed to discover a method to vogue extra probabilities for whoever performed centre-forward, with broad attackers kings of goalscoring up to now this season.
And the Portuguese attacker made an excellent begin in that regard at Palace, scoring from shut vary early on – however he actually might have had a hat-trick.
One other one side-footed broad and a completely clear header misdirected meant it was very up-and-down for him on the day, whereas he dedicated a number of fouls too because the work price was there, however not at all times the timing.
Liverpool, Liverpool high of the league!
Liverpool definitely didn’t emerge unscathed, but it surely’s one other clear sheet and one other three factors – so no matter anybody else’s outcomes throughout the weekend, the Reds will high the Premier League desk for the worldwide break.
That maybe comes at an excellent second given among the exertions of late, a good bit of defensive sloppiness and naturally now Ali’s harm, however that’s solely of any use if gamers don’t get overused or injured with their nationwide sides.
For that, we’ll have to attend and hope.
However as Slot reaches the primary mini milestone of 10 matches in cost, he can rightly be happy with what’s produced up to now.
9 wins, from few actual challenges it’s true, however – because the earlier boss used to say – the bottom is there now, in place for later challenges.
This wasn’t a recreation to get carried away from however we’re high, we’re staying there for now…and we’re able to doing so within the lengthy haul.
Carry on the massive video games.
Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool
