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| Crystal Palace vs Liverpool - FA Cup 5th round |
Emre Can remained in the defence with steady Joe Allen moving into the
midfield alongside Jordan Henderson and Daniel Sturridge continuing to start in
the attack in the continued absence of Sterling.
Palace were content to sit back early on and in the opening exchanges we
responded with extended spells of possession without threatening the Palace
goal.In the 15th minute, Fraizer Campbell gave Palace the lead with a rebound after Dwight Gayle had been put in on goal by a misdirected Martin Skrtel header.
We were denied an immediate equalizer when Adam Lallana's close range shot was brilliantly saved by Julian Speroni.
We had a few solid bursts and some decent chances in the middle of the first-half with Henderson’s rasping shot pushed wide and Skrtel heading over from a corner.
Sturridge was then tripped in the area but deprived of a penalty. Joe Allen volleyed wide and Coutinho shot straight at Speroni. Just before the break we were lucky not to have had our deficit doubled when Mignolet expertly stopped Gayle from point blank range.
Half-time reflections: We went into the break down 1-0 after having 17
shots at goal but needing to keep up the same intensity to turn things around
in the second half.
Mario Balotelli replaced Lazar Markovic on the other side of half time,
which meant Lallana switching to wing back position.
We tied the score at 1-1 very early in the second half through a
fantastic first time volley from Sturridge.
Hendo supplied the sublime cross.
After the goal, the most comical goal celebration of the season took
place with Alberto Moreno joining Sturridge in his signature dance… which needs
a little work.
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| Moreno joins Sturridge in a hilarious goal celebration |
Several minutes later turnaround was complete with defender
Scott Dann fouling Ballotelli and the rejuvenated Italian himself striking a
fierce low drive that Palace keeper Speroni could only parry out and the hero
of the hour Lallana knocked the rebound into an empty net.
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| Lallana delighted with scoring the winner |
Following
our second goal the wildness of the game died down for a while with our side
showing more maturity than last season with us knocking the ball around nicely
to kill the game rather than pushing on for a third decisive goal as with last
season.
Man of
the match - Jordan Henderson
Captained
the side from the front, playing a vital role in the equaliser and alongside
Joe Allen maintained a control influence in the midfield battle throughout the
game.
Positives
Great win
for us, overcoming a rather shaky first half we were able to turn things around
with another test of our resolve and strength in character to secure a
determined and satisfying victory.
Joe Allen
was again very steady alongside Henderson and deserves plaudits for again
showing he is a useful squad player to have as a back up to our main midfielder
options.
Simon
Mignolet looks like a new signing commanding his box and asserting his newly
found assurance in goal, also making a vital save to stop us going 2-0 down -
long may this confidence continue!
The back
three continue to go from strength to strength with Sakho despite picking up a
head injury in the second half summing up the spirit of the defence by choosing
to continue playing rather than looking for a way out from the ensuing battle.
Ball
retention after the second goal was excellent and again Joe Allen and Henderson
in particular should be given great credit for keeping things simple.
We dominated
possession and thoroughly deserved our cup win and now await to see if any of
our other Premiership rivals (Man Utd or Arsenal) join us in the quarter final
draw.
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| Some of our players celebrating at the end of the game |
Negatives
Apart from
the sloppiness of conceding the Palace goal in the first half there were no
real negatives!
Coutinho
could do with a rest after starting the last 17 games in a row and Markovic
needs to purchase some new studs as he seemed to be slipping every time the
ball came to him
A special mention
to the support for our team in the Ruse bar in Borough, London - it was again
excellent despite going behind and we as a club and as supporters continue to
go from strength to strength.
Crystal
Palace (4-2-3-1) Speroni 5; Kelly 5 (Guedioura 63), Dann 6, Hangeland 6, Souare
6; Ward 6 Ledley 6; Bolasie 6 (Zaha 72), Chamakh 6 (Puncheon 45) Gayle 7;
Campbell 7.
Subs
Hennessey (g), Mariappa, Murray, Delaney.
Booked
Chamakh.
Liverpool
(3-4-3) Mignolet 5; Sakho 6, Skrtel 5, Can 7; Coutinho 6 (Lovren
78), Lallana 6, Moreno 6, Henderson 7; Allen 6, Markovic 6 (Balotelli
45), Sturridge 7 (Lambert 78).
Subs Ward
(g), Johnson, Manquillo, Borini.
Booked
Henderson, Can, Mignolet.
Referee
Robert Madley (West Yorks).
Att: 24,500
Manager's comments:-
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| Rodgers gives the win a massive thumbs up |
Rodgers believes the England forward Sturridge is beginning to find form
at just the right time.
"He's working his way back, it's just about extending his game
time,"
"I've got to do that because you risk re-injuring him and that's
something we can't afford.
"You can see his qualities - his speed, his touch and he doesn't
need too many chances to score.
"He should have had a penalty today, it looked a clear penalty, he
looks really bright.
"The team is functioning at a high level at the moment and him
coming back gives us a big boost in this part of the season."
Sturridge looked more threatening in the second period when he was joined
in attack by Mario Balotelli, who came on as a substitute at half-time.
"Balotelli training well now and he's starting to really work
and focus on his job and the team," Rodgers said.
"The other night he came on and got the winner and did very well,
and I thought he came on and did very well today.
"He showed good strength and power to win the free-kick and then a
terrific strike forces the keeper to make a save and Adam puts in the
finish."
"We played a diamond earlier in the season and those two (Sturridge
and Balotelli) played together and did very well," Rodgers said.
"We've shifted the system from the last time we were here but
certainly when the two of them up are up there, they're a threat.
"They're both talented players so they can function in whatever
system they're in."
At the end of the day composure, resilience and quality saw us through. Composure, in that the pressure was on having suffered two disastrous results here, not to buckle after Palace went ahead showed great resolve and belief. As someone who attended both the previous games the atmosphere inside Selhurst Park could be described as ferocious to say the least, especially when you’re up against it.
ReplyDeleteWe remained unbowed and unlike the last two times refuse to go under. Jordan Henderson, in the absence of SG led from the front and was instrumental in getting us back on an even keel with a delightful pass through to Sturridge. The difference with the Liverpool now and the one before Sturridge return is that opposing teams now know that Liverpool possess a lethal finisher upfront and with his pace and movement have to play a deeper thus making it easier for those in behind to move into the space. He made the finish look decidedly easy with the ball coming across him to strike on the volley – it was not to dissimilar in its makeup to that of Sterling’s strike in the last round following Emre Can chip pass over the top.
Mario Balotelli played a key role in the winner. First drawing the foul and second, he’s free-kick forced the palm out for Lallana to tuck in the rebound. Balotelli looks focussed and the big smile after the goal suggests he is beginning to enjoy his football and regaining some assemblance of confidence following his goal against Spurs. There’s still a long way to go but if Mario can succeed at Liverpool it will rate as one of the greatest successes of Brendan Rodgers career, particularly if can be a part of a Liverpool team winning silverware.
The man of the match for me was Simon Mignolet who was decisive and at times brilliant. There was very little he could do regarding the goal, but his blocked save to stop Gayle through on goal just before half-time was the turning point. Had Palace scored then it would’ve taken a seismic shift for us to turn it around. It may just be as he has intimated that he was overthinking his game, but it probable has a lot to with the fact he is now been offered more in terms of protection.
Going to Palace and win is a massive and I suspect many thought it was a potential banana skin waiting to happen. Going back to the resilience shown this was a performance without Gerrard, Sterling, Lucas and Ibe and demonstrates that we have a lot more depth than last season when in the last few games having been lucky with injuries with a very small squad we basically ran out of legs and the players to give us other options.
The fact is we just have to take each game as it comes and keep winning and worry about ourselves rather our next opponents in the FA or Europa Cups because we are capable of beating any other team and as for the League I don’t think any opponents in our remaining fixtures will relish taking on LFC home and away.
Another great result, and slowly but surely Sturridge as a lone striker, is finding his path, it will take time, no pressure.
ReplyDeleteI think Can would be much better and used in Midfield, it’s not like we are loose on defenders, but seems to also play well in defensive midfielder, he has pace and gets forward, would be another attacking option.
Games are running intensively fast, changes will be made, to challenge each game as it comes, the challenge part of this would be keeping consistency, and handling the pressure.
I think Coutinho needs a rest too.
All,
DeleteA great win on Saturday. Now, as long as we avoid the gunners or the devils, we hopefully, should make it to the semi.
Mo