Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images

A look back at the key moments in Liverpool’s frustrating loss caps a very bad, no good week for the Reds.

Liverpool FC 0 - 1 Crystal Palace

Liverpool FC:

Crystal Palace: Eze 14’

Pre-Match

Liverpool enter this match in dire need of finding form with both campaigns to bring home the Premier League and Europa League trophies taking serious hits. Lining up against a Crystal Palace side that has yet to find its footing in the post-Roy Hodgson era is the perfect opportunity for Liverpool to right the ship.

First Half

Liverpool come out of the blocks looking ready to impose their play on Crystal Palace. While Palace does manage to get the first shots in the game, Liverpool do manage to maintain a significant amount of possession. It isn’t long before the Reds break and get their first shot after great interplay between Andrew Robertson, Luis Díaz, and Darwin Nuñez. It’s an easy enough save for Dean Henderson, but it’s nice to see the Reds flying up the pitch.

Goal. Crystal Palace strike first after Tyrick Mitchell plays a wonderful cutback to Eberechi Eze who makes no mistake, putting the ball past Alisson Becker. Watching the play develop, Eze waltzes into position with the midfield pulled towards the ball with no defensive rotation to help pick him up. Weird switch-off but also a rather similar pattern to the types of goals we’ve conceded.

Liverpool should be two-nil down now after Virgil Van Dijk slipped while trying to stand Jean-Philippe Mateta. The Crystal Palace striker bears down on Ali and successfully chips the Brazilian keeper. But thankfully, Andy Robertson never let up and makes a goal line clearance. The goal decision system agrees. Liverpool are lucky to only be a goal down.

Liverpool’s possession numbers have dipped a little in this passage of play, but they’re still hovering around 60% after 20 minutes. It’s a testament, though, to the pressing patterns that Palace is employing as the Reds have been made to look uncomfortable in nearly all phases of play.

Now, Palace are lucky to still be leading as Wataru Edno hits the woodwork after a scramble in the box off of a corner kick. Not much longer after that, Dean Henderson makes a terrific save off of a truly magnificent effort from Luis Díaz who makes an acrobatic effort to turn Andy Robertson’s cross onto the Palace goal. Liverpool are turning up the heat.

Tell me if you’ve heard this one before: Liverpool let in a rudimentary goal first, manage to turn a few half-chances towards goal, but ultimately fail to breakthrough a committed and well-organized defensive scheme. Liverpool now have 45 minutes to keep their title hopes alive.

Second Half

All credit to Palace, who seem to have picked up the notes that other teams have had in terms of managing to break up Liverpool’s passing patterns and doing just enough to keep the ball out of the net. But Liverpool will need to dig deep here to keep their Premier League title campaign on track. To start, Liverpool pull Wataru Endo off for Dominik Szoboszlai.

The half gets going and pretty immediately, Liverpool are forced into a substitution with Conor Bradley coming off injured. This means Anfield and Liverpool fans get the first chance to welcome Trent Alexander-Arnold back to action after his long layoff due to injury.

Almost immediately, Trent’s presence is felt as his positioning into midfield when in possession gives Liverpool numbers further up the pitch, with Curtis Jones pushed into the attacking phase. It leads to a corner where the ball falls invitingly for Darwin Nuñez who smashes it but unfortunately right at Dean Henderson. Liverpool are still in this.

Substitution. Nuñez and Díaz come off for Diogo Jota and and Cody Gakpo. Another big return with the Portuguese striker finally back after his injury spell. Couldn’t come at a more important time.

Another great chance but Liverpool can’t buy a goal: intricate interplay between Curtis Jones and Szoboszlai before the Hungarian cuts it to a wide-open Jota who lashes it towards the Palace goal. A Palace defender gets an extremely last-minute block in and keeps it from going in. Incredible passage of play. Palace are lucky to still be leading.

And now it’s Curtis Jones’ turn as he is played in beautifully on the break by Cody Gakpo. The Scouser can see the whites of Dean Henderson’s eyes but puts the ball wide as he tries to curl it past the keeper. It is more unbelievable at present that Liverpool haven’t scored. A familiar feeling, I know.

Another chance blocked with Mohamed Salah’s shot in the 91st minute turned away. Incredible. If we lose this match, it won’t be for a lack of chances.

And that’s it. Even with 7 minutes of added time, Liverpool are held goalless for the second time in three days.

Final Thoughts

Credit due to Palace as they were organized, resolute, and willing to go forward for their chances. Hard to keep the emotions at bay, though, knowing the stakes and knowing what’s coming at the end of the season. More than a handful of matches to reflect on if Liverpool manage to come up short this year, but this one feels like it will loom large.