Sadio Mane created another record with his strike against Crystal Palace after making it 9 consecutive times he has scored against the Eagles to break the record set by Robin Van Persie who has scored against Stoke 8 consecutive times. Mane also got his 100th Liverpool goal and that's a remarkable achievement from a player who has given so much for Liverpool. Salah is just one goal behind him and it's just a matter of time for him to achieve that as well. Both players are valuable assets to Liverpool and they are delivering the goods.
Crystal Palace already know what to expect when hosted by Liverpool for their afternoon crunch football date and Liverpool won convincingly with a resounding 3-0 despite some threats posed by Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace didn't take advantage of their early dominance and that cost them against a devastating Liverpool side.
Palace had a moment in the 3rd minute after Cantwell found Zaha but Alisson had to come alive to parry away the post as it struck the post on the way. The ball was destined to find the back of the net after Zaha's effort but Alisson produced beautifully.
Jota missed a brilliant chance in the 9th minute after sorting out his feet in the box but unfortunately he blasted his shot over the bar from a tight angle. Mane did so well in the build up to that attempt. The lively Mane found Henderson in the 16th minute and Henderson produced a magnificent strike which the goalkeeper could only save for a corner kick.
Palace also had a change of their own in the 20th minute after Zaha made a penalty claim after he was shoved in the box. The resulting corner fell to Benteke but he shockingly heads over. Liverpool knew what's to come and they started piling up the pressure on Palace. Mane's acrobatic effort would have been the one to break the deadlock in the 34th minute but his effort was blocked off.
The shocking moment of the game came in the 38th minute with Jota's miss. Mane found Salah who later released Henderson on the side and his lovely inviting cross fell to Thiago who produced a lovely header that was denied by the goalkeeper. The rebound fell to Jota with the net at his mercy but he blazed over the bar.
Liverpool finally got their goal in the 43rd minute when a corner kick was delivered into the path of Salah whose header was saved by the goalkeeper but the goalkeeper couldn't prevent the rebound being blasted home from a tight angle by Mane for his 100th goal and he is the 18th Liverpool player to have a century of goals for Liverpool. He reacted quickly to the ball than Palace defenders and he got his reward.
Palace had two chances to draw level with Ward's shot after a lovely Gallagher freekick and Gallagher's heavy touch afterwards when Zaha's good run and pass led to pass finding him in then box.
Liverpool would feel aggrieved to have lost Thiago to injury but Keita held the midfield well and was rewarded with a goal as well. Keita had a shot saved by the goalkeeper in the 68th minute before the rebound got saved again by the goalkeeper who had to produce a double save to keep the scoreline at 1-0.
Ayew blew another chance for Palace in the 72nd minute despite Zaha waiting on the other side of the post. Ayew went for the shot instead and it was a terrible one and that is not to be expected from a player who hasn't scored a goal in 33 appearances. Palace new boy; Edouard hoped to continue his run after his 2 debut goals but the long ball that found him in the box was let down with a heavy touch from him.
Liverpool sensed danger and acted quickly by extending the lead to 2-0. A lovely corner was delivered into the box and Van Dijk's touch nudged it into the near post for Salah who blasted home his 99th Liverpool goal.
Palace looked not destined to score on the day as Edouard was denied by the feet of Konate for a corner kick. The corner kick fell to Zaha but he wasted the chance as his effort went wide. Liverpool crowned the game in the 89th minute with a thunder from Keita. The ball fell graciously to him on the edge of the box and his left foot strike magnificently found the back of the net.
Liverpool moved to the top of the league with that brilliant performance against the Eagles.
Thank you for your time.
My pen doesn't bleed, it speaks, with speed and ease.
Still me,
My tongue is like the pen of a ready writer.
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