Match Day Thread Vs Crystal Palace (A)

Alisson looked the biz today.

 

We did. But i didn't feel as nervy in the 2nd half as i would have when Mignolet or Karius was in goal.

 

Good battle that. Not the greatest of performances from some but everyone fought hard and I reckon we deserved the points on the end.

Thought the referee was terrible throughout.

 

He just calms **** down... there's not as much panic at the back... vvd and Gomez have a lot to do with it

And with keita... quite a few times he pushed the attacking player out, not letting him turn Robertson.....

 

Fantastic that, other top 6 teams will come unstuck there I think.

The calmness I think is the most pleasing thing to be honest - just imagine that a couple years ago, we’d be fluffing our lines, giving the ball away non stop as the clock ticked on.

So composed - love it

 

Salah and Firminho looked rusty, Mane was lively. Allison was excellent with his distribution, he also saved what he had to without having a lot to do. Kieta was good as was Milner. I thought our crossing was poor tonight from both full backs. Having said all that ....get in two wins from two.

 

Gomez was superb tonight.

Keita looked good but guessing he's better than that considering the comments I've been reading?

 

Robertson - take a bow!

 

Lawro got it wrong again

 

I thought Firmino looked good on the ball and worked hard. The link up play just wasn't quite there.

The front three were too narrow, Salah was playing like a CF, never made a run into the channel.

 

I forgot about Gomez he was very good, one of his best performances for us, admittedly he will come up against better forwards than Benteke this season, but he could make that spot his own whilst Lovren is out, despite Lovren being the nest defender in the world by his own admission.

 

I thought he was a grade above going forward first half...unfortunately no one else was lol.

Second until he left he fouled when needed, shepherded when needed.

Was it a perfect performance? Not close. Gave the ball away in 2 or 3 positions but.... I think he's got the ground running overall.

 

C'est super ... Clean sheet and a win

The rest, apart from Alisson's saves, was forgettable but who cares because we got the above

Onto the next #mustwin

 

Thought he worked his balls off without much reward .... same as Milner.... ran himself into the ground on a night where it was needed.

 

Virgil Van Dijk man of the match official

 

Ugly win > beautiful draw

#calledit

 

Strange one this. Taken as one game we where not quite what I hoped for. Taken as progression, we where so much better.

Last season panic would have set in when we couldn't score, every time they attacked with pace we would have been everywhere and nowhere.

We played with much more confidence, we knew we would score, we knew we could keep them out. Over the 90 minutes the whole attitude was we are the better side.

Gomez was motm for me, I thought he was excellent.

 

#calledit

 

Really impressed with his distribution tonight, his long range passing is pin-point and he's so calm with it too. He's not really been tested aerially or shot wise, but so far so good and double clean sheets are good for the confidence of the back 5 so can only be good.

Strange game, but that's the type of game we'd previously come away with a draw and we pretty comfortably won. Controlled it well I thought and that's despite the front three being very rusty! Imagine when they get up to speed.

 

As an additional, I've never been so sorry to see an opposition player get a red card. The lad was excellent throughout, home grown, and I think he's only a boy.