Crystal Palace v Liverpool: Matchday blog
Liverpool made it seven wins out of 10 in the Premier League by beating Crystal Palace 4-2 in a thrilling game at Selhurst Park.
We covered all of the action here in our matchday blog - scroll down for a thorough recap of how three points were secured.
Key points:
- Goals from Emre Can and Dejan Lovren sandwiched a James McArthur equaliser to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead inside the opening 21 minutes.
- McArthur then equalised again with another header shortly after the half-hour mark.
- Joel Matip's first goal for Liverpool put the Reds 3-2 up at half-time.
- A brilliant Roberto Firmino finish extended Liverpool's lead in the 71st minute, and the Reds saw the game out to take all three points and keep pace with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
The manager's verdict
Klopp's post-match press conference at Selhurst Park saw the boss discuss an incredible match, his team's defending and the ability of Coutinho.
Click the picture to read a full summary of his thoughts.
Klopp: "Since I have been Liverpool manager, I have been happy with the character of my boys...we are good enough to find solutions in situations like this."
Klopp: "It was a good game, I was not too happy with the start...but we scored nice goals and created unbelievable chances."
Klopp: "I'm sorry for this boring performance!"
Jürgen Klopp has arrived for his post-match press conference
Updates to follow...
Klopp and his players go over to salute the travelling supporters, who were magnificent as usual.
What a game that was!
Full Time
It's all over!
Liverpool keep pace with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the Premier League with a thriling 4-2 victory here at Selhurst Park.
Emre Can, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip and Roberto Firmino were the names on the scoresheet for the Reds.
Substitution
Third and final change for Liverpool
Ragnar Klavan replaces Mane as the clock ticks down
We're into injury time...
Of which there will be four minutes
Substitution
Second change for Liverpool
Divock Origi is on for Coutinho, with just two minutes of regulation time remaining at Selhurst Park.
Mandanda saves from Coutinho
The Brazilian plays in Mane down the right then sees his shot from the Senegalese's return pass saved by Mandanda
Substitution
Final change for Palace as Fraizer Campbell replaces McArthur
Substitution
Lallana off for Wijnaldum
Jürgen Klopp makes his first change, with Georginio Wijnaldum introduced for Lallana.
Yellow Card
Firmino was booked in the aftermath of his goal for taking his shirt off in celebration
Substitution
Second change for Palace
Puncheon on for Ledley for the hosts
Goal
4-2 to Liverpool!
What. A. Finish.
Firmino latches onto a brilliant Jordan Henderson pass and coolly lifts the ball over the advancing Mandanda.
The travelling Kop are roaring the Brazilian's name!
Photo
Another snap from the first half, this time of the Reds celebrating Matip's goal
Substitution
Palace change
Alan Pardew turns to his bench first as Andros Townsend replaces Lee Chung-yong
There's been no let up in the pace of this game after half-time. Both sides maintaining the frenetic tempo of the first period.
Karius denies Benteke again
Matip misjudges a header, leading to an opening for Benteke, but the former Reds striker shoots straight at Karius.
Chance for Mane
The Reds forward latches onto a perfectly-weighted throughball from Coutinho but sees his low shot saved by Mandanda.
Yellow Card
Emre Can goes into the book for a challenge on Yohan Cabaye
Good save from Karius
The Liverpool goalkeeper gets down well to palm Christian Benteke's powerful shot behind for a corner. The set-piece then amounts to nothing.
Kick-Off
We're back underway at Selhurst Park
Fancy a flutter?
Here are the half-time odds, courtesy of our official betting partner BetVictor.
Crystal Palace 16/1
Draw 5/1
Liverpool 1/5
To place a bet with BetVictor, click here.
All the Opta stats you need from an incredible first half at Selhurst Park...
Half Time
Referee Andre Marriner brings a breathless first half to an end
Liverpool go in at the break 3-2 up, thanks to goals from Emre Can, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip. What a half of football!
Goal
3-2 to Liverpool!
Joel Matip's first goal for the Reds puts the visitors back in the lead!
The centre-back powers an unstoppable header beyond Mandanda from Coutinho's outswinging corner.
Lallana drags wide
Another quick counter from Liverpool ends with Adam Lallana dragging cross-shot wide. This first half has been played at a relentless pace.
Photo
Coutinho in action at Selhurst Park...
Mandanda denies Coutinho before Mane shoots over
Two great opportunities in quick succession for Liverpool. First, Coutinho's header is somehow tipped onto the post by Mandanda, before Sadio Mane side-foots Nathaniel Clyne's cross over the bar
Goal
2-2
Another McArthur header draws Palace level again. This time the midfielder glances Wilfried Zaha's cross from the right past Karius at the Liverpool keeper's near post
Moreno hits the outside of the post
A fast break from Liverpool ends with Moreno drilling a powerful effort off the outside of Mandanda's post.
Chance for Firmino
Liverpool are very much in the ascendancy after retaking the lead and Roberto Firmino looks certain to make it 3-1 after being fed by Coutinho, only for the Brazilian to be denied by a last-ditch block.
Goal
2-1 to Liverpool!
Lovren makes amends by heading home Coutinho's corner from close range to restore the Reds' lead. What a start to this game!
Goal
1-1
Palace equalise as James McArthur takes advantage of a miscued Dejan Lovren clearance and nods over Loris Karius.
Goal
1-0 to Liverpool!
Emre Can gives the Reds the lead with an excellent left-footed finish after good work down the left from Philippe Coutinho and Alberto Moreno.
Liverpool continuing to probe patiently, the majority of the game is being played in Palace's half.
A sharp passing move from Liverpool ends with Philippe Coutinho slicing his left-footed cross over Steve Mandanda's goal. A confident start from the Reds.
Liverpool, playing in their flourescent third kit, are enjoying the lion's share of the possession early on, but neither goalkeeper has been tested as yet.
Kick-Off
Liverpool get us underway at Selhurst Park!
Liverpool warming up at Selhurst Park earlier...
As usual, we bring you an exclusive look inside the LFC dressing room ahead of kick-off this evening...
Joel Matip was the man on duty for the pre-match interview with host broadcasters at Selhurst Park this afternoon...
TEAM NEWS
The team news is in from Selhurst Park, and Jürgen Klopp has made 10 changes from Tuesday’s EFL Cup victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
Alberto Moreno retains his place at left-back with James Milner missing out due to illness, while Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane are among those recalled to the Reds’ starting line-up.
Liverpool’s team in full: Karius, Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Moreno, Henderson, Can, Lallana, Mane, Coutinho, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Randall, Klavan, Lucas, Wijnaldum, Origi, Sturridge
Palace skipper Scott Dann's programme notes make for interesting reading today.
"I've been impressed by Liverpool this season, they've started really well and you can see what they're about," writes the centre-back.
"They've carried on doing what they did for parts of last season and scored lots of goals which means it's going to be a difficult game for us, but we're looking forward to it as it's always good to test yourselves against the best - and at the moment, that's what Liverpool are."
Weather
After it was mooted in our blog earlier, we can now confirm that it's a dull and cloudy afternoon here in south London.
While it's unseasonably warm for late October, it feels like rain could be on the cards - so it's definitely still jacket conditions, for me.
Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew in his column in the matchday programme...
“We have to get our minds fully focused for what should be a wonderful game against a Liverpool side that have hit some good form in the last few weeks under the guidance of Jürgen Klopp.
"They may be eying up a challenge for the Premier League title in the coming months after building up some momentum in the first nine games of the season, which is something we have lost since the last international break.”
The stage is set...
The current scene inside Selhurst Park a couple of hours ahead of kick-off.
Four wins in a row for U18s
So the young Reds have done their bit for today - Neil Critchley's U18s claimed a 2-0 win over Sunderland at the Academy thanks to goals in either half from Glen McAuley and Yan Dhanda.
Read our match report on how they secured a fourth successive victory.
The view from the opposition
"We're thanking the football gods that Scott Dann is back available for selection this weekend to give some added steel to a backline which has looked vulnerable."
Eagles fan Tom English provides an interesting lowdown on the situation at Selhurst Park.
See much more from our interview with Wijnaldum on LFCTV GO below...
'Everyone wants to stop us'
We caught up with Georginio Wijnaldum this week and ahead of the meeting with Palace, the midfielder explained why the Reds are becoming a target for Premier League sides.
"We're a team in a good situation, we have played good games and won games, so everyone wants to stop that and wants to stop us playing football and counter-pressing and all the stuff we're good at."
Fancy a flutter?
Check out the match odds on offer from our partner, BetVictor...
Crystal Palace - 4/1
Draw - 3/1
Liverpool - 3/4
Click here for more.
Watch the U18s in action
Before the first team take on Palace, the U18s host Sunderland at the Academy. And we have live coverage of the game on LFCTV and LFCTV GO. Don't miss it.
Want to take a closer look at who the key men may be at Selhurst Park? Then our Opta player comparison widget is perfect for you...
'Like the Reds, Palace are one of the best in Europe at pressing the opposition'
So writes Paul Wilkes in his latest tactical assessment for us.
Click here to read more of his analysis.
Goals guaranteed?
Without wanting to jinx anything, the pre-match stats suggest there should be goals in today's game...
- 50 have been scored in the 14 Premier League meetings
- The Reds have scored in all but two of those games
- In all league matches, only two goalless draws have occurred
This Liverpool squad is not short of dancers.
Daniel Sturridge has led the way since joining the club, while this season Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino have pulled some shapes too.
And now it seems Sadio Mane is ready to graduate from supporting act to centre stage.
The forward reveals: "I hope next time it is my [celebration] because I am also trying to teach them a celebration, and after I score next time, they are going to dance it.
"It's a Senegalese dance, but it's a secret at the moment. After my next goal, you're going to see it!"
Weather
After rumours that the much-loved weather report was absent from our previous blog, there is no messing around today - here it is.
A glance at the forecast tells you everything, with grey clouds across the board. Temperatures should climb to around 15 degrees by kick-off, though.
Jacket conditions, in my opinion.
We have been behind the scenes at training in the build-up to the clash with Palace, bringing you pictures and footage from Melwood of the Reds preparing for the game...
To hear much more from Klopp ahead of this evening's match, watch his Melwood press conference in full on LFCTV GO below...
Boss: Squad strength is the best thing
Some quotes from the manager in today's newspapers offer interesting insight into how Jürgen Klopp deals with having more than 11 players pushing hard for a place in his team.
He says: "I have a starting line-up and on the bench I have six players who push me to bring them on because of their shape, because of their performance in training and because of their performance in the last game.
"It makes my life not really easy but it's the best thing. We have the opportunity to make good changes. Having more than 11 players in good shape is the only possibility to be successful."
To kick things off, take a look through a wealth of stats from the season so far...
2016-17 2016-17
Good morning and a warm welcome to our matchday blog, where we'll keep you updated on Liverpool's trip to Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Fresh from sealing a place in the EFL Cup quarter-finals, the Reds will want to follow up their 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion last weekend with another positive result against the Eagles.
Christian Benteke and co will have other ideas, of course...
Stay with us throughout the day for extensive build-up and live coverage from Selhurst Park. There's no better way to spend a Saturday, surely?