Crystal Palace vs. Liverpool: *Bumper* Post-Match Analysis

Paul Tomkins, Andrew Beasley, Daniel Rhodes and other TTT regulars will give their thoughts on the match for 24 hours after the game, so the article received via email is unlikely to be the final version. There's statistics from the match and videos too.

Post-Match Thoughts

Paul Tomkins

With injuries and the insane amount of pressing against Real Madrid four days ago, this was always going to be a difficult test.

When I saw the team news, after the incredible energy expended against Madrid (which didn't lead to the just rewards), I wasn't expecting too much, as I noted on here before the match. It was far from Liverpool's best or freshest XI.

In the end, a fairly dull 0-0 draw unfolded, albeit peppered with woodwork hits from both teams, and another Liverpool penalty claim (Cody Gakpo taken out by the keeper after dinking it past him but wide) in what I think is now a year-long wait for a Premier League spot-kick.

This felt like an enforced return to the older, slower and shorter team that has struggled this season – but with no Darwin Núñez, Luis Díaz, Ibrahima Konaté and various others absent (plus Stefan Bajcetic sensibly not risked), and with Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino not match-sharp, it was likely to be a slog and a grind with a lot of cutting edge and pace missing. Thiago hadn’t been at his best before his recent injury, but he’s someone who can move the ball quickly.

I'll reserve judgement for when the team hasn't just broken its pressing record, and gone away just a few days later without so many tall, fast and powerful players.

This was not the future Liverpool team, nor – I would think – even what Jürgen Klopp would want as the current one, given all the injuries; but the ghost of past teams, and for many players, their time has passed; while others will prolong their careers only with the help of fresh young team-mates.

In fairness, the Reds played really nicely for 30 minutes, then the mistakes crept in; after that, it was a fairly even game.

The second half of my comments and those of the others follow for subscribers only.