Liverpool overcame a sluggish start and a one-goal deficit to claim a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, sending them atop the Premier League table at least for the next few hours.
The Reds, playing their third match in six days, looked off their game for most of the first half, struggling to create opportunities and falling behind to Palace brilliance. However, Jurgen Klopp’s side rallied in the second half, finding their rhythm and dominating possession.
“It’s not always about playing beautiful football,” said a relieved Jurgen Klopp after the match. “For 76 minutes, that was probably the worst we’ve played all season. But I told the team that sometimes you just have to win ugly. And credit to the lads, they never gave up. They kept fighting and ultimately found a way to get the win.”
Klopp reserved special praise for Salah, who reached another milestone by scoring his 200th goal for Liverpool. “Congratulations to Mo,” said the manager. “You don’t reach 200 goals by only scoring when you’re playing your best football. That was a fantastic strike, and it came at a crucial moment for us.”
The win sees Liverpool leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the table, though the Gunners have a chance to reclaim first place when they face Aston Villa later today. Regardless of the outcome of that match, Liverpool’s comeback victory is a significant statement of intent and demonstrates their ability to grind out results even when not at their best.
