Liverpool star Sadio Mane exposed Crystal Palace.
The Senegalese international showed that they had no answer to the mad, rabid Reds as they tore through the Eagles.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in a near perfect clinical display shredded Crystal Palace 4-0 in an empty Anfield, extending their home winning streak, and remaining perfect at home this campaign.
It was an intense, high pressing, counter pressing, hazing, harassing, hungry, relentlessly withering exhibition of defensive football.
Indeed! This is right proper football. This is Liverpool football.
From the opening gun, straight outta the gate, it was clear this team came to play. There was no soft shabby ramshackle midfield chaos, no hesitation in the final third. This had everything a Liverpool fan could want.
After 10 minutes, I actually forgot the empty stands. No rusty Reds here folks.
Trent Alexander-Arnold opened the ticket for the Reds with a world class free kick from 22 yards out in the 23rd minute. It was a scorching curler tucked just inside the near post. The Palace keeper Wayne Hennessey didn’t have a prayer.
Some 20 minutes later Mohamed Salah joined the rout party with a slick finish from a peach of a pass from Fabinho over the top, from 30 yards out, giving the Reds a significant two goal advantage at the break.
This is the ruthless Liverpool we have been waiting since February to see. And the lads did not disappoint. Fabinho was not finished, as he blasted a waist high shot from about 30 yards out, 10 minutes into the final period. It looked like a highlight reel of his world class strike against City.
Sadio Mane got on the score sheet in the 66th minute with a well weighted pass from Salah, taking the ball at his feet and beating Hennessy to the far corner. Game-set-match.
Liverpool once again controlled tempo, won the ball in the midfield battles, and kept Palace back on their heals for most of the match. Allison for all he had to work today could have taken a pedicure and ordered fish n chips from the club cafeteria.
Roy Hodgson’s side had no answers to the mad rabid Reds today…there are few teams on the planet who could have withstood that onslaught.