Liverpool failed to capitalise on an opportunity to keep pace with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, falling to a slender defeat against mid-table Crystal Palace at Anfield on Sunday.
Eberechi Eze netted the only goal of the game with 14 minutes on the clock, and Jürgen Klopp’s men were unable to find an equaliser despite ardent efforts in the second half. Their finishing was to blame – just six of their 21 shots were on target, and none could truly threaten Dean Henderson in the Palace goal.
As it happened
Crystal Palace’s early opener was remarkably well-worked, allowing Eberechi Eze to slot home following a cutback from Tyrick Mitchell to round off a flowing passage of play before the quarter-hour mark at Anfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesThey could have been afforded a chance to double that lead after Virgil van Dijk slipped, allowing Jean-Philippe to bear down on goal. His effort had Alisson beaten, but a spirited recovery from Andy Robertson was enough to deny the Frenchman as he hooked the ball off the line.
Wataru Endo and Luis Díaz both came close to restoring parity for the Reds, who would go on to up the ante in the second half – but still, the net did not ripple. Darwin Núñez was halted by Dean Henderson, Diogo Jota was left frustrated when his close-range effort was stopped by Nathaniel Clyne, and Curtis Jones inexplicably fired wide.
The lineups
LIV: Alisson; Robertson, van Dijk, Konaté, Bradley; Jones, Endo, Mac Allister; Díaz, Núñez, Salah
CRY: Henderson; Lerma, Andersen, Clyne; Mitchell, Hughes, Wharton, Muñoz; Eze, Mateta; Olise
