Show only key events Please enable JavaScript to use this feature 45+3 min Alexander-Arnold sweeps a beautiful pass inside Mitchell to Salah, forcing Guehi to meet and concede the corner. Excellent defense. 45 minutes Three minutes added time. 44 mins “To say that the goal was not only against the flow of the game, but in fact a complete affront to the flow of the game, ignores the fact that that’s exactly what Palace set out to do: soak up all the pressure and then to knock Liverpool to the bench,” says Shoaib. “And it’s working for them so far.” That’s true, but it was still completely one-sided for the first half hour. The goal was the first time Palace had mounted a decent counter-attack. 43 min Salah crosses to Elliott, whose header from 15 yards is straight at Guaita. He strokes it – he probably could have kept it – and Andersen puts it out of play. 42 min The first half was a triumph for Patrick Vieira. Palace’s back five withstood a lot of pressure in the first half hour and then began to find their counter-attacking range. 40 min: Alisson saves from Zaha! Palace open up Liverpool with increasing ease. Doucoure slips a pass down the inside-right channel to Zaha, who times his run superbly again. This time his touch is slightly heavy, and this allows Allison to charge and block the finishing shot. 40 mins Diaz adjudged for a foul on Ayew. 39 mins Here’s Zaha’s goal, which was really great. 38 min Doucoure heads high and wide from 25 yards after a decent Palace break. Moments later, Zaha shoots straight at Alisson from 20 yards. The mood has changed. 36 min Alexander-Arnold has two long shots in the space of a few seconds, both blocked. The palace defenders must have already blocked seven or eight shots. 36 mins ‘Is it me,’ says Gary Naylor, ‘or does Nunez look like a young Zlatan?’ I don’t see it yet. 35 minutes Nunez shoots out from 25 meters. Apparently Liverpool have conceded the first goal in their last six Premier League games. They still won most of them, mind. Updated at 20.35 BST 34 mins This goal wasn’t just against the flow of the game. it was a complete insult to the game series. But it was such a good finish, not least because Alisson is arguably the best one-on-one in the world. Greatly done on the break by Ebere Eze. He killed a Palace defensive clearance, elegantly eluded Fabinho and opened up Liverpool with a straight pass behind Phillips. Zaha timed his run perfectly, got into the area and put an emphatic low shot past Alisson. What a great goal. Updated at 20.40 BST
TARGET! Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace (Zaha 32)
Wilfred Zaha gives Palace the lead with a superb goal! Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha scores their first goal past Liverpool’s Alisson Becker. Photo: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Zaha flies into the air in celebration. Photo: Paul Greenwood/REX/Shutterstock Updated at 20.39 BST 31 min I know he’s not the best defender in the world, I know, but Alexander-Arnold’s passing range is unreal. 30 minutes: Chance for Salah! Alexander-Arnold is in the middle of the pitch where he gets away from Schlupp and curls a wonderful pass over the Palace defence. Salah meets it on the run, 10 yards from goal, but heads straight at Guaita. It was another good chance, and a ridiculous ball from Alexander-Arnold. He and Elliott have looked very bright for Liverpool. 28 mins “Liverpool had nine tries in 24 minutes,” says Richard Hirst. “Does Knowledge know the file?” Is this my new nickname? I guess I’ve had worse. Updated at 20.29 BST 27 mins Clyne takes the ball off Elliott’s toes in the area. It’s all Liverpool, as it has been all along. According to the Premier League’s official website, Liverpool had 77% of possession. 24 min van Dijk has a pop from 30 yards. It’s well hit but off target. 24 min “That’s got 0-1 (Robertson OG, 86′) all over it,” cries Matt Dony. 23 minute: Opportunity for Salah! Alexander-Arnold receives the ball in space on the right. He takes a touch and lays a stunning low pass to Salah, who opens his body and shoots a few yards wide of the near post. It wasn’t the easiest opportunity, but it should have worked for Guaita. Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah reacts with frustration. Photo: Andrew Yates/EPA Updated at 20.37 BST 22 mins Salah tees up Alexander-Arnold, whose stinger from the edge of the area is blocked by Guehi. 21 mins Alexander-Arnold’s deep cross is cleared by Robertson under pressure from Clyne, but Ayew gets in front of Nunez to clear the ball away. 20 min Palace has calmed things down a bit, although the match remains very one-sided. 18 mins Eze goes one-on-one before being denied by Alisson, although deep down everyone knew he was offside. The flag went up as soon as Allison made the save. Updated at 20.19 BST 17 mins Robertson makes a great move upfield, Milner’s long pass and Ward’s shot is blocked. Diaz picks up the loose ball and finally makes room for a shot that also beats Ward before spinning into the arms of Guaita. 15 mins Nunez runs into space on the right, on a long pass from Phillips, and fires a low cross that is well held by Guaita. 13 mins Palace are already scoring goals, prompting a few boos from the home crowd. 10 mins Palace can’t get away with their third, never mind their half. 9 minutes: Two chances for Liverpool! Elliott danced past a couple of defenders on the edge of the area and unleashed a low shot that would have gone in but for Andersen’s excellent block six yards out. Moments later, Nunez volleyed over the far post from a tight angle. Updated 20.10 BST 6 min Palace’s 5-4-1 formation already looks to be morphing into a 9-0-1. I don’t suppose Palace fans would appreciate a 9 vs 0 matchup during a game at Anfield. 5 mins Liverpool have made a lively start. Salah clears Mitchell on the right and plays the ball back to Elliott, whose shot from the edge of the area is saved by Andersen. 3 min “Matip and Konate injured and Gomez still getting fit?” sniffs Peter Oh. “It’s not good news for Liverpool’s defence. “Thankfully Klopp was able to find a Phillips screwdriver, er, in the toolbox to try and limit the attack at Palace.” 2 mins Milner catches Guaita next after cutting the shot over the bar – I think it hit his shin – and there’s a break in play while Guaita gets treatment. Updated 20.04 BST 1 minute: Chance for Milner! The old man almost gave Liverpool the lead after 55 seconds. Alexander-Arnold’s dangerous cross was cleared by Guaita under pressure from Nunes. Milner pounced on the loose ball from Ayew just outside the penalty area and then slapped a left-footed shot over the bar. 1 minute Peep peep! Palace start the game. Jurgen Klopp’s pre-match interview 🗣️ “Because we don’t have another striker” ♂️ 🤷 Jurgen Klopp explains why he gave Darwin Nunez his first Premier League start. pic.twitter.com/fp4eVEmaDm — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2022 The players take a walk on the field, all wearing their games. It’s looking a bit gloomy on Merseyside, with something called ‘rain’ in the air. “Nunez has looked really good so far,” says Brendan Large. “Is this Liverpool’s new first choice treble?” Yes! “I have a bad feeling about it (from Liverpool’s point of view),” says Niall Mullen. “And, looking at the other contenders, I feel that if the Reds don’t mount a challenge, we might just send the Premier League trophy to the Etihad before August is out.” I expected Liverpool to make a scarily fast start, as they did last time out when they lost the title to City on the final day of last season. I still think they will, despite last week’s little fiasco. They will win 12-0 next Monday, we already know that. Patrick Vieira’s pre-match thoughts “We can create chances, we can score goals” 💬 Patrick Vieira looks ahead to a tantalizing #MNF clash between Liverpool and Crystal Palace this afternoon 👇 pic.twitter.com/qvtdrCB8Ob — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 15, 2022 Thirty years ago today, the Premier League began. For richer and poorer, it has dominated our lives ever since. The most famous images have been everywhere for the past few days, so our image editors looked for something a little more unusual. And they have found some rare gems. “I’m in your old stomping ground over there in London and I’m hoping to avoid going to a Palace supporters’ pub wearing my King Kenny/Ken Dodd double,” says Ian Copestake. “It’s best to have a tickling stick to release the liveliness.” Patrick Vieira starts without a recognized centre-forward tonight. But he may soon have a new game to play.
Team news
Some interesting choices on both sides. Jurgen Klopp left out Jordan Henderson, with Harvey Elliott and James Milner preferred in midfield. Nat Phillips, who played so many games in 2020-21, starts at centre-back. Joel Matip and Ibrahima Konate are injured, while Joe Gomez is only fit enough for the bench. And record signing Darwin Nunez starts up front. It looks like Patrick Vieira has moved into a back five, with Joel Ward replacing Odson Edouard. This is the only change from the Palace team that lost to Arsenal ten days ago. Liverpool (4-3-3) Alisson? Alexander-Arnold, Phillips, van Dijk, Robertson? Elliott, Fabinho, Milner? Salah, Nunez, Diaz Subs: Adrian, Gomez, Tsimikas, Bajcetic, van den Berg, Keita, Henderson, Carvalho, Clark. Crystal Palace (possible 5-4-1) Squirrel? Clyne, Ward, Anderson, Guehi, Mitchell; Ayew, Doucoure, Schlupp, Eze? Zaha. Subs: Johnston, Richards, Milivojevic, Oliseh, Hughes, Ebiowe, Plante, Mateta, Edouard. Referee Pavlos…
