Gotta say I find it baffling that here we are top of the League, winning yet again and divvies wanna argue that our top goalscorer isn't good enough any more. Some of those divvies are actually the ones crying the most that his contract runs out next summer as well. But there you go, that's divvies for you.
As for the game, a tough win away from home. But one that we came through, without ever really breaking sweat. It was made much more difficult than it should have been due to Jota deciding to fluff his lines with two absolute sitters and other opportunities that we played one too many passes with. But ultimately, we grabbed all three points.
Defensively we were strong but still gifted them a fair few chances.The one just before half-time was their best in my opinion though Eze's one on one with Jaros was another really good chance that they failed to take. Bit of a dodgy start from us with them scoring but was clearly offside.
Was extremely happy for Jaros to make a couple of saves. Must have come off that pitch feeling ten foot tall, knowing he'd played a big part on his, unexpected, debut. Our fourth Czech mate to play for our great club.
Go into the international break, sitting pretty at the top of the League.
Alisson - made a couple of saves, most of which he should be making. Like I said before the one just before half-time was the only one I thought was a really good save. The others were fairly straight forward that a top keeper should be making. Hopefully the injury doesn't keep him out too long, even though it looks like we have two competent keepers to replace him, you still want your first choice XI out there as much as possible.
Alexander-Arnold - was a bit sloppy with the ball at times, trying too hard to play the flashy pass. Defensively though, he kept Eze quiet for the most part and that's no easy task. And ultimately, a right back should be judged on his defensive display than anything else so I think Trent can be fairly happy with how he played.
Konate - what a F***ing tank this man is. He just continues to be a rock at the back and his partnership with Van Dijk remains one of the most underrated in world football. Virg will always get the praise because he's Virg but his partner deserves just as much. I think playing Nketiah instead of Mateta helped us, especially as we kept forcing Palace to go long and Ibou and Virg are gonna eat up everything against Nketiah in the air.
Van Dijk - basically the same as above. Boss.
Tsimikas - looked nervy to begin with and after five minutes I turned to me arl fella and said I'd take him off. But played a lovely pass into Gakpo for what lead to the opening goal and his performance improved gradually. Don't think he's done enough to trouble Robbo but a decent enough understudy.
Jones - don't think I can recall him doing too much other than giving away a number of fouls in the first half. Games just seem to pass him by on a regular basis. And that can't be the case because there is a position in our midfield three that's up for grabs.
Gravenberch - another incredible showing from the lad. It's now up to the opposition teams to work out how to stop him taking it on the half-turn and letting him stretch his legs through the middle of the park. Because if they don;t, then this lad is gonna run the show every week. Massive credit to Arne as well because he saw something in Grav that few of us thought about.
Mac Allister - a fairly quiet game from Mac before being taken off at half-time. An injury might not be the worse thing for him right now to give him a couple of weeks without football as he looks knackered.
Salah - for much of the first half, our out ball was the long diagonal from Van Dijk to Mo. Wasn't at his productive best but still a pest to the Palace backline. Missed a very good chance to put the game to bed.
Jota - is very fortunate that he did score the goal because the two missed chances were shocking. A bit like the opening game against Ipswich, he missed a straight forward header but got the goal and that is what a centre forward will be judged upon. The finish he did score was very pleasing on the eye. His determination to get to the ball first.
Gakpo - another impressive showing from Cody who is proving his worth once again this season. He's sort of flitted in and out of form during his Liverpool career but so far this season has hit the consistency button. The form of both him and Diaz is pushing the other to greater levels in order to get the nod for the left wing slot.
Szoboszlai - a bit like Jones and Mac Allister, there was little of note from Szoboszlai.
Diaz - plenty of hardwork as you expect from Lucho. Replaced Mo on the right wing but was naturally ending up on the left more often than not. Like most of the forwards yesterday, had moments to put the game to bed and didn't which kept us a bit more nervous than we'd of liked but there you go.
Jaros - he can tell the world that he's played for the biggest club in the world now. And he kept a clean sheet on his debut, making a couple of decent saves to aid us on our victory. Would have been shitting himself coming on and would have left the pitch feeling boss. Well in kid.
Robertson - was genuinely pissing me off with how far he was pushing forward late on in the game. Just hold your position Robbo. We're one up in a game that we need to win, so just stay at left back and make sure that there's no danger in behind you. Thankfully, it didn't cost us. And it might just be my mindset not moving with the times where full backs are more than defenders nowadays.
Endo - still has a 100% record ths season. Four appearances, four wins.
Overall it was a scrappy win but had we taken our chances, it'd have been another four or five. Either way, you only get three points for a win no matter how many you score.
I wouldn't say we ground out the win because, like I said, we could have won by a cricket score. But an ugly win isn't a bad thing, proves we can get the job done without being at our clinical best.
Top of the League for at least another two weeks. And next up is "our first real big test" (again) against Chelsea. Win that and tick another one off.
Well in Reds.
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