Give out 16 man of the match awards against Palace

Liverpool had 16 men of the match against Crystal Palace.

Liverpool started with their strongest side with both Mohamed Salah and Andrew Robertson back in the fold. Clicking on all cylinders, this steam engine certainly steam engined when it came time.

High energy, intense, intimidating, Jurgen Klopp brand football; just when you thought they’d reached their highest gear they upped it another notch on the throttle.

Crystal Palace were left trying to get it out of first gear.

The Eagles were no match for these ruthless Reds. They took 21 shot with seven on target, did not give up a corner, and allowed only three ineffectual shots, none on target.

Man of the match for me? The whole damn side, the starting 11, and the young lads ( Nico Williams, Harvey Elliott, and Takumi Minamino), who got a chance to see some action in the second half, as well as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who subbed on for Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum.

This was a complete team effort to the last man. A good and proper rout, without doubt.

Now the Reds find themselves two points shy of the holy grail. It’s been a long time coming, but that reckoning is on the horizon. The fat lady ain’t sung yet but she sure is warming up the pipes.

They could be crowned champions as early as tomorrow if Frank Lampard and Chelsea can stop the runaway train that Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have been since the restart. A draw or City loss and it is finished.

Liverpool have a week to relax unwind, and prepare for the anticlimactic tie with City at the Etihad next Thursday. Champion’s elect for the Premier League, the lads certainly showed their championship quality and their pedigree today.

This has been one frightening unit from start to finish, with just one small blip before the COVID shutdown. Now it’s time to finish it off with style.

Words by Paul Landwehr.