Controversial VAR decision halts Crystal Palace stirring fightback to hand Liverpool three points
It might be premature to speak of a fully reignited Premier League title race but, following Manchester City’s rare slip on Saturday, one familiar challenger is at least still smouldering dangerously beneath the surface.
City’s run of 12 consecutive wins has seen off pretty much every realistic threat to a fourth triumph in five seasons but, with this 3-1 win, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have narrowed the gap to nine points which, with a game in hand and a trip still to the Etihad Stadium to come, does at least provide a ray of light.
Goals from Virgil van Dijk and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain had put Liverpool into a seemingly unassailable lead but, having been inspired by Andrew Roberston during a brilliant first 35 minutes, they wobbled and ultimately only sealed victory following a hugely controversial late penalty.
Diogo Jota had got behind Joel Ward in the 85th minute but, having failed to control Trent Alexander-Arnold’s pass, seemed to veer into Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. It all looked fairly innocuous as the ball rolled out of play but a lengthy VAR review ensued and, after then consulting his pitchside monitor, Kevin Friend awarded a penalty to finally end Palace’s impressive second-half fightback.
A solid defence has been the foundation on which Liverpool have stringed together positive results without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane during the Africa Cup of Nations but it was their incisive attack which was immediately most eye-catching here.
With the trio of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Curtis Jones assuming control of midfield, Alexander-Arnold and especially Robertson were granted licence to flow forward in a virtual 2-5-3 formation that initially overwhelmed Palace.
Vicente Guaita had replaced Jack Butland in goal for Crystal Palace and was quickly called into action when he turned Henderson’s shot around his right-hand post for a Liverpool corner.
Robertson stepped up and, with his out-curling delivery floated perfectly to the edge of the six-yard box, Van Dijk arrived completely unchallenged to power his header past Guaita. The absence of any nearby Palace player made it difficult to pinpoint responsibility for stopping Van Dijk but Jeffrey Schlupp, who was just closest as he surged into the penalty area, was especially statuesque.
Robertson remained a particular threat down Liverpool’s left and, with Palace left-back Tyrick Mitchell constantly dragged inside to deal with Roberto Firmino and Diogo Jota, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late runs into space were persistently dangerous.
Palace had already survived one early warning when Oxlade-Chamberlain stabbed a chance into the side-netting but he did not make the same mistake when a second chance presented itself from an almost identical position. Robertson, once again, had delivered a cross beyond the entire Palace defence and, having controlled the ball expertly on his chest, Oxlade-Chamberlain finished with his left foot past Guaita. Mitchell had again darted inside from full-back to shadow the offside Firmino – giving some grounds for Palace to feel aggrieved even – but a second goal was fully reflective of Liverpool’s dominance. Their early possession had topped 75% but there were soon also clear signs of unexpected defensive frailty.
Joel Matip had appeared vulnerable against a rapid and constantly interchanging Palace front three of Michael Olise, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Odsonne Edouard and, having squandered possession to Olise, he was only rescued by Alisson’s outstretched leg. Mateta was also soon then threaded behind Liverpool’s defence by Olise but his cross back along the six-yard box just evaded the onrushing Palace attack.
Palace resumed after the interval just as they had ended the first half, with Olise’s pace, touch and movement causing Robertson huge problems. Schlupp’s midfield influence was also growing and he created Palace’s next chance, deftly cushioning his header into the path of Edouard, whose improvised backheel was well saved by Alisson.
A Palace goal was certainly coming and Schlupp then had the composure to pick out Mateta, who was just onside rather than Edouard who had just drifted offside. Both players surged towards Alisson’s goal, with Mateta then calmly rolling the back to Edouard for a simple finish to narrow the deficit.
The goal certainly woke Selhurst Park and, with the stands rocking, Liverpool were forced to withstand a further period of incessant pressure. Joachim Andersen shot narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area and Olise then forced Alisson to scramble backwards for an important save after he had just been caught off his goal line.
A Palace equaliser was looking more likely than Liverpool’s third but Alexander-Arnold then delivered a wonderful crossfield pass. It had dissected the entire Palace defence to put Jota behind Ward and, while Liverpool were surely fortuitous to win a penalty following Guaita’s challenge, Fabinho calmly sealed an important victory from the penalty spot.
