da betsson： After a first half goal bonanza, you could be forgiven for thinking that this game finishing 4-2 was almost underwhelming. We may not see another first half like this one in the Premier League this season, ludicrous is probably the only way it can fairly be described.
da betway： Jurgen Klopp and Alan Pardew were too emotionally invested to enjoy the first half fireworks and they will be left with plenty to consider. Such excitement often comes at a price and things were no different at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening. Questions will be asked of both sides’ defences in the respective post mortems and pondering will be done to find answers to problems that have crippled each team for far longer than they would wish to admit.
The match meandered throughout, with Liverpool always the favourites to claim a victory, but Crystal Palace do have their own nuggets of positive news they can cling on to despite the continuation of their abysmal league form in 2016.
More specifically, though, what did we learn from this cracker?
Changing Man
Aside from his two goals, James McArthur was superb against Liverpool. Crystal Palace’s midfielder has been given a little more freedom in midfield this season and produced some of the best form of his career to date.
The excellent header for his, and Palace’s, second goal topped off a strong all-round performance. His industry has been key for Palace previously, but he is developing into something far more significant for the Eagles’ midfield.
Brief Improvement, No change
Despite a seeming improvement defensively of late, Liverpool reverted to type against Palace. Dejan Lovren’s mistake opened the floodgates and they looked extremely vulnerable throughout.
Liverpool’s defenders were all more effective in the opposition’s final third than in their own third and that is a running concern for Jurgen Klopp.
King Philippe
Reaching a consistent level of performance has been the question that has surrounded Philippe Coutinho’s Premier League career. It finally now feels like the Brazilian has become a regular performer, producing the same excellent standard of football week on week.
Coutinho has flair to get people off their seats and the talent to pull off things most players wouldn’t dream of – the league is a better place for his consistency.
Missing Andros
Andros Townsend’s presence at Crystal Palace is vital. Signed as the replacement for Yannick Bolasie this summer, the former Newcastle and Tottenham winger offers pace and direct running on the opposite flank to Wilfried Zaha that gives any opponent something to worry about on fast breaks.
Lee was anonymous while he was on the pitch and this game could have played out rather differently had Townsend started.
Improved Alberto
Alberto Moreno had lost his starting slot at left-back to James Milner, which showed just how far out of consideration he had fallen for Jurgen Klopp.
Had Milner been fit, Moreno would unlikely have started this game. Milner was not fit, however, and Moreno grasped his opportunity like a desperate man.
No defensive calamities, energetic and intelligent offensively, Moreno has piled the pressure on Milner.