Crystal Palace 0-2 Liverpool: In game and Post Match discussion

Even though we weren't our usual electric self going forward, I thought we played very well tonight and I was very impressed once more.

It wasn't that long ago that I would really be struggling to pick a leader out from our team and now I see them all over the pitch.

We've changed. Our mentality has changed and our confidence has changed. We're a much stronger side now and just like I said last week, I'm not getting carried away BUT we're looking like champions.

That tonight was a typical champions like performance. We weren't at our best but we still completely dominated the game and never really looked like being in any trouble. A couple of seasons ago we would have lost that game tonight. As soon as they put pressure on us we would have crumbled and thrown the game. Not now. We have the mental strength to go with the quality and talent on the pitch. Something we've lacked for years.

We were actually under a bit of pressure tonight. It was only game 2 but Chelsea, city and Tottenham all won. We had, on paper, a tricky game at palace but we turned up and did the business with ease. Very happy and proud of the boys tonight.

I'll start with Alisson. I thought he had a brilliant game. Already you can see the difference he brings. Finally we have a keeper who doesn't panic, who commands his box and his distribution is brilliant. Very impressed.

The two centre halves were excellent, especially VVD who I gave motm too, but joe Gomez deserves huge credit for his performance too. I feel a lot more relaxed with Gomez alongside VVD than i do dejan, and the last two games has been evident why.

The full backs had a bit of an off day by their usual high standards. Don't get me wrong, both did their jobs well tonight and Palac wide men were quiet, but going forward they were just a bit average thats all. Nothing to worry or moan about though.

Midfield three i felt controlled the game without being particularly spectacular. Well, Keita had half a dozen or so moments where he showed his class actually and he's already proving he is levels above our other midfielders.

I thought mane was the best out of the front three tonight and his goal was brilliant. Salah saw enough of the ball but he just had one of those nights where nothing he touched came off. He still did brilliant to win the pen though. Bobby had a frustrating night where he struggled to get involved.

So to summarise, no we weren't at our best tonight attacking wise but it was such a solid display us. To quote Brendan Rodgers we showed a lot of character there tonight. What impressed me most was how we were prepared to roll our sleeves up and battle and get stuck in. We wanted it more than them and it showed. We're also improving in possession too and just dominating/controlling games.

Very impressed again. Well done reds.

The reason why we were after Fekir. Studge or Solanke dont have that work rate and the trickery to keep their midfield occupied. Fekir was seen as someone who would have taken turns with Bobby for this role and versatile enough to play other attacking positions. (Ok, no more Fekir talk)

We will see Firmino playing the proper false 9 this season, trying to keep the opponent's last midfielder busy, and Mo & Mane as the more advanced players.

Firmino still contributed with his work dropping back into midfield, but he could have been subbed out at 80 minutes and it might have helped. But he's one who is still getting to full fitness. It worked out.

Good day, dad well enough to be discharged from hospital and the mighty redmen win, certainly weren't great but will gladly settle for an ugly win

Great news. Hope he enjoyed news of our win.

All those bitter Palace fans boo'ing Salah after his penalty collision, does my head in !
I watched it on a decent NBC stream and non other than Martin Tyler was commentating- he was just as bad, bemoaning another controversial Salah incident !! WTF is he on about !
get over it..

Sh*te tactics from the owl tonight and his star man Zaha was sh*te all night long.
Benteke was even worse, he's f***in useless.

3 points in the bag

The journey continues....

To be fair, Tyler did acknowledge Salah completely turned Mama and that's what led to the penalty. The other comm (name?) said Mama stuck his leg out and it was the right call.

For context, it's been a year since Palace last lost by two goals at Selhurst Park. Last team to win at Selhurst Park was, of course, Liverpool back in March (2-1 to us).

And I've said this about Palace fans before but they are seriously the most petulant, needy fans around. ALWAYS claiming a foul or a throw in or whatever despite it being stonewall, clear as daylight decision. Ridiculous but I suppose that's what you get if you have a lack of songs.

Moaning makes them Glad All Over.

We're also improving in possession too and just dominating/controlling games.

I noticed in pre-season and these last 2 games, our possession play has been more assertive/commanding than ever before. No doubt having 2/3 footballing players in midfield helps, but I also wonder if Lijnders is having an influence on this? There was an article/interview a while back where it talked of how he values the impotance of possession play and specialist players, and his use of TAA as a DM and Woodburn as a 10 in the u18's.

https://twitter.com/SamMcGuire90/status/1031658323639197696

Palace are a solid team, but we got the job done.

First time in years I've felt confident in the defence. Based on what gomez has done, Can't see dejan getting back in bar injury.

VVD was f**king immense. Won every header bar one I can remember.

And i stand by I think Mane will be our best player this season. Salah off tonight, and Firmino is defo not match fit. Give Sturridge/Shakiri a start against Brighton.

I think the only change to the starting XI, barring injury, would be Henderson on for Milner (or maybe Gini). Even that is uncertain.  This group battled as a side and it's hard to drop any of them.

I think the only change to the starting XI, barring injury, would be Henderson on for Milner (or maybe Gini). Even that is uncertain.  This group battled as a side and it's hard to drop any of them.

Yeah, it would be harsh to drop someone from the current first 11. I would however love see Fabinho make a home debut!!!

Something I want to clear up. I don't think Mane, Milner and Salah was squabbling over the pen, I think Salah was engaged in a heated debate with Sakho and co and Mane just pulled him away.

Hard to see us winning this game a year ago, it’s games like this that usually play a big part in costing us over a season.

Clean sheet 2 goals whats not to like , excellent 3 points,being picky final balls from Robbo and TAA needs improving   

This are the kind of points which wil give us the title ,every time we play Palace they are always  full of confidence  to beat us ,well done  to our defence  .

Something nice about grinding out a result. Very comfortable, few scares but nothing our new keeper couldn’t handle. Top stuff!

Wrong thread but...…..I keep predicting in the prediction league or when it pops up but I know nothing about it how it works where to find it.....

Missed majority of the game as I was training young lads for football... Gaelic football!

Came home to see a composed last 10mins with few scares. In the 10mins I saw:
- Wijnaldum excellent in possession and winning the ball back
- Alisson always an option to give the ball to and he distributed it brilliantly. First time in a long time I don't have to hold my breath when our keeper is on the ball
- Van Dijk clearing that corner made me roar as loud as when Mane put in the 2nd

Exactky what we needed. We weren't electric up front but we grinded out a massive 3 points. Bring on Brighton!

A well earned 3 points and full credit to the REDS for the way they stuck to the task.Voted Virgil M.O.M. he didn't give Benteke a chance.I could be wrong but are we the only team with a clean sheet after 2 games played.

not spectacular football be incredibly dogged performance something we have really had for a long long time.

Thought we knocked the ball around really well in tight areas in the first half, but the final ball was constantly lacking.  Bodes well for when we really get up to speed though.

Alisson looks commanding and his distribution is as good as anything I've ever seen.

VVD - solid and won EVERYTHING in the air, not giving Benteke a look in, and is the lynch-pin & organiser of a much improved defence.

Keita was excellent in the first half (apart from the error that almost led to a goal), but faded in the second half.  He's gonna be an animal for us.

Firmino has not got going at all this season yet, but the fact that we're 6-0 in 2 games means LOOK OUT when he does click back into gear.

Salah is involved a lot but his touch is not what it can be and he's not that clinical yet.

Mane looks the sharpest of the front 3 which shows with his goal tally thus far.

All-in-all, an excellent win against a good Palace side who will win a lot of points at home this season.

We look good and solid so far, but there'll be tougher tests to come, however, there is plenty of room for improvement for some players so VERY exciting times ahead.

For the first time in ages, I'm actually going into games EXPECTING us to win.

Good times 

Not strictly true tho is it

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/27/roy-hodgson-facing-end-england-manager-iceland-euro-2016

we know he was the wrong man for us but is there any real need to demonise a decent man.

You and Con are entitled to your own opinion and it's your prerogative however I think you both are seriously deluded as he is a nasty piece of work.
I can't stand him one iota.

Just re-watched the first half, and f**k me, I was blind watching the first half first time round.

Very impressive first half by us vs a very organised team (Partnership of Sakho & Tomkins ,14 games, 11 won, 4 drawn, 0 losses). We had control of the match and should have scored 1/4 chances before the pen.

Wijnaldum and Keita were actually very good in midfield, Milner was good but wasn't West Ham standard. Can't fault our CB's and Mane, but Firmin, Salah and our 2 full backs could have done better, but overall, as a team, we were superb!

Haven't watched a second time, but that's how I saw the first half.  Some of our one-touch football and movement to get from tight areas in our own half into good attacking positions, was top drawer.  Just the final delivery or shot letting us down. 

Keep knocking it about like that and we'll destroy teams once the front 3 find their best form.

Don't know about anyone else what spoiled it somewhat for me was having to listen to Neville spout totally biased opinions about Liverpool and Salah. He is bang out of order saying he left his leg in because he didn't and he didn't dive either. He wasn't hacked down but he did stumble over Sakho's out stretched foot and he then totally disrespected the Shirt and tried to rip it of himself.
We all know he is a Manc but he is supposed to be a professional pundit not a UTD mouthpiece.

I really enjoyed that result. Those are the types of character building performances which can lead to future success for this team. I thought  we played very disciplined and patient football and coped with the Palace pressure (both players and crowd) very well.

Best player on the field was VVD and his partner Gomez played his best game as a CB thus far.
Most assured performance was by Alisson...having never seen him play, i was very impressed by his composure, positioning and above all else, his distribution. The guy has a magnificent passing range and accuracy, wow.

Lastly, while our front 3 were not at their best, Mo still had massive influence in winning the pen and assisting the second goal...Bobby effectively set up the pass for the Red card and Mane completed the scoring.

Make no mistake, Palace away is a tough match for any team and we did extremely well to win this one ugly.
On a side note, that Wan-Bissaka of CP looks like a bright prospect, he had a solid match in their defence.