Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp seemed relieved following Liverpool’s win over Crystal Palace. After the highly nail-biting thriller that was Wolves’ 4-3 win over Leicester City, Premier League fans saw another thrilling encounter between Liverpool and Crystal Palace.
Roy Hodgson’s team struck first blood in the 34th minute at Anfield thanks to Andros Townsend. However, Liverpool began the second half strongly with Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both scoring within seven minutes to give Liverpool the lead.
James Tomkins kept the Eagles in the match with his equaliser in the 65th minute before Salah restored the lead for Liverpool 10 minutes later. In the third minute of stoppage time, Sadio Mane extended Liverpool’s lead and it seemed that the match was over. However, Palace weren’t done yet as Max Meyer pulled one back to make the score 4-3. Liverpool held their nerve and managed to keep the scoreline 4-3.
It was relief more than joy for Liverpool players as Crystal Palace gave them a run for their money.
Following the match, Klopp said, “A game like this can go in all directions. We dominated the first half but went in 1-0 down. When Sadio Mané scored the fourth goal in stoppage time I looked at my watch and though: ‘OK that should be enough.’ But football always teaches you the game is never over until it is finished.
They came back with another goal and then Rafa Camacho wins the game in pretty much the last second [with his tackle on Wilfried Zaha]. I don’t want to think about what might have happened if he had not won that ball. Zaha had a really good game, he gave us a lot of problems. There are different ways to win games and today we had to dig in with all we had.”
Liverpool now have 60 points from 23 matches and are seven points above Manchester City at the top of the table. However, that difference can go down to four points as City will most likely beat Huddersfield Town convincingly today.
Liverpool players now have a break as they don’t have to any FA Cup fixtures. The Reds resume their Premier League campaign on the 31st against Leicester City.
