F**k performances, F**k stats, F**k VAR, F**k the lot of it. Only thing that matters is a result and we got it today.
And what a day. There's a genuine belief starting to build again that we are the real F***ing deal once more. This group of players have got that never say die attitude that Jürgen demands. People have questioned our mentality, nah F**k that.
Usual VAR bollocks but what do you expect? Penalty given then disallowed, penalty not given then twenty minutes later gets given, Diaz has another goal chalked off with no evidence shown. And the ref on field had no clue what he was doing. The red card, soft or not is a red card. Two yellows equate to a red unless Graham Poll is the F***ing ref. And they were two bookable offences so he was rightly sent off - similar to Jota's red at Spurs.
Mo gets his 200th goal and it wasn't his best or cleanest but he got it. When we needed him, he steps up. Harvey Elliott has another excellent outting from the bench and delivers a great finish to win us the game.
Over to the rest now. Can they do what we did?
Alisson - back in the team and one great save in either half. One shaky moment when he came for a cross and Van Dijk was going to head it but thankfully nothing came of it and his game was fairly quiet.
Alexander-Arnold - after the last couple of games, it looked like he was hitting his best form but today was his quietest in recent weeks and by far. Didn't make much difference when he moved into the middle either from his personal game. Obviously his move into midfield allowed a certain other play to play at right back and earn himself a man of the match award.
Quansah - don't think he did much wrong as he continues to impress whenever given a chance. Penalty was the sort of thing that happens in most games and gets waved away. Only this time VAR decided to get involved and award is just as we were about to kick off on Boxing Day. Probably the right decision in fairness but it's how long the game went on before anything was decided that got on me wick.
Van Dijk - continues his good season. Before the sending off at Newcastle he was under performing but since then, he's been one of our most consistent performers. And he was very good again today. Dominant in the air in difficult conditions, decisive on the ground so all good. A top draw Van Dijk makes us that much better.
Tsimikas - a decent but understated performance from the Greek. He was good but no real outstanding moments. And in all honesty that's enough for me from a full back. I know our full backs under Jürgen are normally the ones who provide outstanding moments but I'm happy if they're just solid and dependable. And Kostas was today.
Szoboszlai - yet another underwhelming performance from him. I know he scored against Sheff Utd but I don't think he played all that well that day either and today he again only became visible when he was coming off. Those decent performances at the start of his Liverpool career are starting to look more like the execption rather than the rule.
Endo - was identified by Palace as somebody they could harry and harrass whenever he had the ball and they did that. Robbed him of the ball a few times. Was fouled in the build up to the first penalty they got given, don't know why it took the ref ten minutes to see it. That was more of a foul than Van Dijk on the Palace lad that he'd given the pen for. I've said previously about Endo though, he kicks people and he tries, which will be enough to make him a favourite of mine even if his ability doesn't warrant many performances.
Gravenberch - disappointed today with very little that he tried coming off. The thing that separates him from our other midfielders is his ability to run with the ball, Palace made sure there was very little chance of him doing that today.
Salah - can't keep him off the scoresheet for too long can you? Wasn't great today but then again very few were. He, like most, improved after the introduction of Elliott. But play well or not, he scored and that's what he's on the pitch to do. He also got another assist. So if that's what he does when not playing well, F**k me he must be some player when he's on form.
Nunez - didn't offer us much today, was involved in more offsides than decent chances from what I remember. I don't think the way Palace set up suited Darwin's style of play. He needs space to run in behind to trouble the opposition and having 11 men behind the ball makes it difficult for him to be his best.
Diaz - the most effective of the front three in the fact that he at least tried to run at the oppositon and make things happen. Wasn't great with the final ball but he did try.
Gomez - clearly made a huge difference as the half went on. His pace on the attacking side of things was evident for all to see today. He was just breezing by Clyne at times. I've said a few times this year that his versatility will hinder him from getting a run of games in any one position but it'll make him invaluable to this squad and that's what today was about. For most of this season he's been very good to boss.
Konate - I said I didn't think Quansah didn't do much wrong, I don't know if Ibou did much right. Few silly fouls that he didn't need to make, bit rash in his thinking. And the problem was a lot of it was in the Palace half, giving them a chance to clear their lines.
Gakpo - made a difference when he came on and the whole new look team down the right were our best performers. I said that the way Palace set up didn't suit Nunez, I think it did suit Cody. It needed that clever link up man to get between their defensive set up.
Jones - didn't really do much after coming on, wouldn't even know he was on.
Elliott - his performances as a sub all season have outshone his performances from the start and today was no different. He was F***ing boss today. He took the mantle of being the one who was running at the opposition and it paid off with a wonderful goal. His energy, his link up play, his desire, it was all on display. Made up for the lad as well because you can see what playing for this club means to him.
Overall, one happy fat b***ard today.
We're top of the League so anybody not being happy can go F**k themselves.
Logged
