Thierry Henry overtaken? The heroes & villains from Liverpool 4-3 Palace

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Home is most certainly where the heart is for Liverpool.

Anfield, historically seen as a fortress, has been very much that in recent months. Jurgen Klopp’s men incredible 4-3 win over Crystal Palace was the club’s seventh on the bounce in front of their partisan support.

Roy Hodgson’s side, glorious in defeat, can now be found in good company: Arsenal (5-1), Newcastle United (4-0), Manchester United (3-1), Everton (1-0), Fulham (2-0) and Cardiff City (4-1) have all left empty-handed in this recent ominous run.

Such a lengthy match had never been managed under Klopp before. In fact, you must go back to January 2014 for the last time a Liverpool team managed to string that many consecutive home league wins together.

Being so ruthless at home can only be a weapon in what is turning out to be a fascinating title race against defending champions Manchester City. Before squeaky bum time, though, here are the winners and losers from their pulsating encounter with Palace.

Winner: Sadio Mane

Salah and Firmino have recently stolen the headlines but Sadio Mane continues to be a standout performer. You just new he’d get on the scoresheet given who the opposition were. Mane, an irresistible winger, has enjoyed facing no team more than Crystal Palace.

After today’s exploits; he’s bagged seven goals against the south London club, more than any other side. In fact Mane has now scored in four consecutive matches against the same opponent for the first time.

Loser: James Milner

It’s never good when a team ends a game with less than eleven players. For the league leaders this was a predicament that faced them in the final moments. James Milner, ever the dependable, entered the referee’s book with eight minutes left to play.

You would assume, given his wealth of experience he’d play it safe from then on, but that didn’t turn out to be the case. A minute before the 90th Milner was given his marching orders for a second professional foul. Incredibly it was only the second time he was sent off as a Liverpool player, the first incredibly came against today’s opponents.

Winner: Andros Townsend

Andros Townsend’s last five goals for Crystal Palace heading into this weekend’s fixture have come against Manchester City, Burnley, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal. To say he’s someone that leaves his scoring boots for the big occasion is starting to become an understatement.

His recent effort at the Etihad Stadium – contender for goal of the season – was undoubtedly celebrated on the red half of Merseyside but those cheers would turn into jeers here. Townsend’s strike, putting The Eagles ahead in the 34th minute, was only the fourth time an opposition player registered a Premier League goal at Anfield this season.

Loser: Julián Speroni

Julián Speroni is a bona fide Crystal Palace legend. Since joining from Dundee FC he’s gone to amass 400 matches for the club before this weekend. However, it’s fair to say the Argentine goalkeeper is no longer first choice at Selhurst Park, with Wayne Hennessey and Vicente Guaita relegating him to third choice.

Injuries to both of them ensured a first league start for the 39-year-old shot-stopper. He will look back on appearance number 401 as one to forget. Not because he conceded three goals but the manner in which Liverpool’s third went in. Speroni, who seemingly looked to lift James Milner’s cross over the bar, managed to get his bearings all wrong and Mohamed Salah – ever the opportunist – bundled the ball home leaving Palace’s elder statesmen with egg on his face.

Winner: Mohamed Salah

There is no question Mohamed Salah is Liverpool’s most crucial player even if Klopp continues to stress the importance of collective spirit. His goals, and occasional assists, often make the difference. It’s been that way since debuting for the Reds following a standout campaign for AS Roma.

The 26-year-old Egyptian forward has been relentless personified. His brace against Palace, taking him to 16 in the league for this campaign, saw Salah reach 50 in the Premier League in only his 72nd appearance – only Andy Cole (65), Alan Shearer (66) and Ruud van Nistelrooy (68) have been quicker to reach that milestone. To put this in context further, Salah needed fewer games than Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero.

Loser: Roy Hodgson

All good things must come to an end. Before this weekend’s showdown ex-Reds boss Roy Hodgson, who isn’t exactly fondly remembered at Anfield, had never tasted tasted defeat at Liverpool’s spiritual home.

His previous four meetings yielded three draws and one win. As we delve even deeper you’ll find he’s left having never conceded a goal: 0-0 (with Blackburn, 1998), 0-0 (with Fulham 2008), 0-0 (with Fulham, 2010) and 1-0 (with West Brom, 2012). That, of course, changed today. Not only did he suffer a first loss but shipped in four goals.

The post Key winners & losers as Salah punishes Speroni in Liverpool 4-3 Crystal Palace appeared first on Squawka News.



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