Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Matchday blog
Liverpool recorded a first Premier League win of 2017-18 in their opening home game of the season, courtesy of a 1-0 success over Crystal Palace. Sadio Mane's 73rd-minute goal was the difference as he pounced to stab home at the Kop end.
Sadio Mane: We got our rewards
Match-winner spoke to LFCTV after the final whistle at Anfield and explained why he felt Liverpool's three points were well deserved.
Click here to read what he had to say.
The manager's verdict
Jürgen Klopp addressed the media after the game in his post-match press conference.
In it, he discussed the Reds' win over Palace, how his side dealt with the threat of their opponents and Andy Robertson's impressive debut display.
Click here to read what he had to say.
Jürgen Klopp in his post-match press conference: "We defended outstanding good today...we created chances and scored a goal. It wasn't a perfect goal, but well deserved."
Check out the story of today's game through Opta widgets below...
Full Time
Reds get the win!
Sadio Mane's 73rd-minute goal is enough for Liverpool to collect their first Premier League win of 2017-18 win a 1-0 success over Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Four minutes of added time to be played...
Salah bends one towards the top corner...it's clawed away by Hennessey.
Substitution
Dejan Lovren is on for Roberto Firmino.
Robertson strikes inches over after the ball is deflected into his path on the edge of the box.
Firmino tees up Solanke inside the box, but his drive is repelled by Hennessey.
Salah meets Gomez's cross with a downward header, but Hennessey claims.
Oh Mane, Mane...
Goal
GOAL! SADIO MANE!
Finally. Finally Liverpool have the lead.
Mane forces the initative from the left and is also on the end of a slice of luck as the ball breaks off a Palace defender into his path inside the area, but he doesn't care and nor do we as he emphatically stabs the ball beyond Hennessey and wheels away in delight.
Get in.
Substitution
Dominic Solanke is on for Wijnaldum.
A speedy Liverpool counter spearheaded by Salah results in a game of pinball inside the Palace area before Mane's eventual shot lacks the power to beat Hennessey.
Yellow Card
Henderson booked for hauling back Loftus-Cheek.
Yellow Card
Van Aanholt goes into the book for knocking the ball out of Gomez's hands as he went to take a quick throw in.
Substitution
Liverpool change - Mohamed Salah is on for Daniel Sturridge.
Henderson's low curler from Mane's lay-off is kept out by the palm of Hennessey on the stretch.
Firmino pounces on possession on the left, cuts into the area and strikes inches over the crossbar. Unlucky
Chance!
Big let-off for Liverpool as Loftus-Cheek spins Klavan and gets to the byline before cutting back for Benteke, who hooks over the crossbar from eight yards out.
Chance!
A half-cleared Liverpool corner is set hurtling back towards the Palace goal but Wijnaldum's snap 25-yard volley, which Hennessey needs to get down low into his bottom right-hand corner to keep out.
Liverpool win another free-kick inside the 'D'...this time Milner elects to take but scoops over the crossbar.
Firmino and Henderson combine well to open up space inside the area, but Dann clears the former's attempted low ball across goal.
Kick-Off
Back under way...
...come on you Reds!
The story of the first half in numbers...
Half Time
Goalless at the break
There's nothing between Liverpool and Palace at the half-way stage as they return to the dressing rooms with the scoreline tied at 0-0.
End to end!
Firmino cracks one towards goal - perhaps somewhat unexpectedly - from the right corner of the box that Hennessey needs to push to safety.
Palace break and Mignolet needs to keep out a blast from Puncheon.
Sturridge strikes a free-kick goalwards from inside the 'D' but it hits the top of the Palace wall.
More dangerous delivery from Robertson; this time Mane can't turn home his invitingly cross to the back post.
Lovely bit of skill from Sturridge to evade his marker 20 yards from goal, but his eventual shot sails over the bar.
Mane threatens to burst clean through inside the box, but a Palace defender just gets a toe to it to thwart him.
Yellow Card
Puncheon goes into the book for a late challenge on Gomez.
Chance!
Liverpool take a quick free-kick, allowing Robertson to swing in a fabulous cross from the left that Matip heads wide. He might feel he could have done better, however.
Chance!
A combination of Sturridge, Robertson and Milner open up Palace down the left, resulting in the vice-captain being sent into space inside the box before shooting low towards goal. Hennessey manages to block and claim at the second attempt.
Tomkins meets Puncheon's free-kick from the left with a header that loops way over Mignolet's crossbar.
Loftus-Cheek heads away Milner's free-kick just before Firmino can turn it towards goal.
Robertson's cross from the left creates panic inside the Palace area, but they eventually manage to snuff out the danger.
Kick-Off
And we're off!
Crystal Palace start the game at Anfield. Come on you Reds!
A minute's silence is observed at Anfield following the tragic events that occured in Barcelona this week. The teams are also wearing black armbands.
Inside the home dressing room...
The Reds have arrived...
...for our first home game of the season.
Fancy a flutter?
Here are today's latest odds, courtesy of Bet Victor.
Liverpool - 4/11
Draw - 17/4
Palace - 15/2
Click here to place a bet.
CONFIRMED LFC TEAM NEWS
Jürgen Klopp has made five changes to his starting line-up from Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Hoffenheim, with Joe Gomez, Ragnar Klavan, Andy Robertson, James Milner and Daniel Sturridge coming into the team.
Mohamed Salah, Emre Can and Dejan Lovren are named on the Reds’ bench.
Liverpool: Mignolet, Gomez, Matip, Klavan, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Mane, Firmino, Sturridge.
Subs: Karius, Lovren, Flanagan, Can, Salah, Solanke, Origi.
Gini Wijnaldum is on pre-match media duties at Anfield today...
Anfield is ready...
The stage is set...
Speaking of Trent Alexander-Arnold...
Watch his stunning free-kick against Hoffenheim in midweek from 14 angles below...
Words from the boss and the captain
Jürgen Klopp and Jordan Henderson's first programme notes of the season make for interesting reading.
The manager outlines what he's learned from Liverpool's first two games of the campaign against Watford and Hoffenheim, while the skipper discusses the talents of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Check out exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage of the Reds training for today's match at Melwood..
Did you know...
That the 16 previous Premier League meetings between Liverpool and Palace have featured 59 goals, at an average of 3.69 per game?
Catch up with Jürgen Klopp's pre-match press conference in full below.
The boss discussed a variety of topics, including:
Good morning and welcome to Liverpoolfc.com's live matchday blog, with the Reds hosting Crystal Palace in their first home game of the season this afternoon.
Both teams are out to pick up their first Premier League victories of the new campaign today, after Liverpool drew with Watford and Palace lost to Huddersfield Town on the opening weekend.
Check out the Opta stats from those games below...