James Milner and Sadio Mane give Liverpool win over 10-man Crystal Palace
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Updated 20/08/2018 at 21:41 GMT
Premier League, Selhurst Park - Crystal Palace 0 Liverpool 2 (Milner 45' pen., Mane 90+3')
Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrates after scoring his team's second goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on August 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom
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James Milner and Sadio Mane were on target as Liverpool battled to a hard-fought 2-0 win over 10-man Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
The visitors, who stuck with the same line-up that thrashed West Ham, made a patient start to the game without reverting to their usual fast tempo.
Roy Hodgson’s side, inspired by the impressive full-back Aaron Wan-Bissako, carved out the best opportunity through Andros Townsend’s 30-yard curling strike which rattled the crossbar.
Mohamed Salah was not at his sharpest and spurned their best chance after his attempted lob over the keeper went over.
But the Egyptian was involved in the incident which saw the Reds awarded a penalty when he was tripped by former Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho with Milner converting the spot-kick.
The home side responded well in the second half and had the Reds under the cosh with Luka Milivojević’s free-kick well saved by Alisson and another former Reds player Christian Benteke had a header blocked by the Brazilian.
Hodgson brought on Alexander Sorloth, Joel Ward and summer signing Max Meyer but their chances of salvaging something were ended by Wan-Bissaka’s red card for tripping Salah from behind as he was through on goal.
And in stoppage time Jurgen Klopp’s side sealed victory through Mane’s composed finish to make it six points and two cleansheets from two games to keep the early pace with leaders Manchester City and Chelsea.
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A flare is removed from the pitch, following Sadio Mane of Liverpool celebrating scoring his team's second goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on August 20, 2018 in London, United K
Image credit: Getty Images
TALKING POINT
Was it a penalty? Michael Oliver had the perfect view and was quick to point to the spot when Sakho tripped Salah. There was definitely contact but the Egyptian’s stumble and delayed fall made it more debatable.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Alisson (Liverpool): The former Roma keeper looks the business dealing with crosses, knowing when to stay and went to punch it clear. And he produced a couple of good saves in the second half.
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Alisson of Liverpool reacts during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool FC at Selhurst Park on August 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
CRYSTAL PALACE: Hennessey 7, Wan-Bissaka 7, Tomkins 7, Sakho 5, Aanholt 5, Townsend 6, Milivojevic 6, McArthur 5, Schlupp 5, Zaha 6, Benteke 6. Subs: Sorloth 5, Ward n/a, Meyer n/a.
LIVERPOOL: Alisson 8, Alexander-Arnold 5, Gomez 7, van Dijk 8, Robertson 6, Milner 7, Wijnaldum 5, Keita 7, Mane 8, Firmino 4, Salah 6. Subs: Henderson 5, Lallana n/a.
KEY MOMENTS:
21’ - DISALLOWED GOAL! Alexander-Arnold's cross is bundled in by Mane after Hennessey spilled the ball but the referee had blown for a foul on the keeper.
23’ - SALAH MISS! Keita with a lovely bit of skill and ball over the top for Salah who controls it well and tries to lob it over the keeper but it goes well over.
25’ - SO CLOSE! Townsend with a stunning curling effort from around 30 yards which rattles the crossbar after Keita had given the ball away.
45’ - GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! Milner fires home the penalty down the centre just before half-time after Sakho was penalised for a foul on Salah.
53’ - GOOD SAVE! From the clearance from the corner, Zaha bursts forward and is tripped by Alexander-Arnold 25 yards out. Milivojevic's free-kick is well beaten away by Alisson, that was creeping in.
75’ - RED CARD! Wan-Bissaka dismissed for tripping Salah from behind as he was through on goal. That is a shame as he has had a brilliant game.
90’+3 - GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL! Mane is through on goal, rounds the keeper and tucks it into an empty net.
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Liverpool's Guinean midfielder Naby Keita (L) runs away from Crystal Palace's English midfielder Andros Townsend
Image credit: Getty Images
KEY STATS
- Liverpool have won five of their last six games against Palace.
- James Milner has scored 13 of the 15 penalties that he has taken in the Premier League, including 9 of his 10 for Liverpool.
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