Under Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool has become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the world. The club has fantastically prolific forwards, indefatigable midfielders, impressive defenders and a fearless goalkeeper, not to mention Bobby Firmino and his no-look goal-scoring prowess. At times, it’s almost impossible not to find joy when the Reds are on TV.
But during Liverpool’s drive to win the Premier League title, the club has picked up a few of the more undesirable traits that true champions often show: the capacity for simulation and avoiding strict punishment from refs.
Liverpool defeated Crystal Palace 4-3 on Saturday thanks in part to a howler from Eagles keeper Julian Speroni. The win moved the Reds to seven points ahead of Manchester City, which plays Huddersfield on Sunday.
The three points did not come without great difficulty. Andros Townsend, who also scored against Man City last month, gave the Eagles a lead in the 34th minute. Salah equalized in the opening minutes of the second half and Firmino made it 2-1 seven minutes later. But Palace again pegged the title challengers back with James Tomkins scoring off a corner. Eventually, Salah and Sadio Mané scored late to secure the points, but the final whistle didn’t come until after Max Meyer added a stoppage-time strike.
What will make Liverpool’s victory frustrating for Manchester City fans (or anyone else wanting to keep Liverpool from winning the title) are some of the more nefarious plays from the Reds on Saturday.
For starters, Salah was found once again flopping in and around the box.
We’ve dissected some of Salah’s recent dives, perhaps none worse than the penalty he won against Newcastle in December. Against Crystal Palace, he threw himself to the pitch, well after any contact, if there even was contact.
Diving time pic.twitter.com/oCYLDrujaB
— Mohamed Salah (@MoSalah) November 12, 2015
Sadio Mané also went down looking for a PK in the 71st minute. (To be fair to Liverpool, Tomkins could have been called for a hand ball in the box in the second half.)
Liverpool is more than good enough to score without searching for penalties like that, and the club will only grow its anti-fan base with these sorts of dives.
And it doesn’t help when referees refuse to appropriately punish Liverpool challenges, another facet title-winning clubs often possess.
The worst challenge on Saturday came from Naby Keita, who put his studs straight onto the top of Andros Townsend’s foot.
Keita didn’t even receive a yellow card for that tackle, which easily could’ve been seen as a red.
Furthermore, James Milner probably could’ve been sent off for a last-ditch tackle on Wilfried Zaha, instead being shown just yellow. Milner was later sent off after again fouling Zaha, though it wasn’t really his fault as he was played a hospital ball following an ill-advised dummy from Firmino.
Liverpool is trying to win its first Premier League title ever (the Reds last won the league in 1990 when it was still the First Division). But more and more the club’s players are resulting to less-than-savory means to get there.
That’s not to say this is bad — in my opinion teams should do whatever they can to win, pushing boundaries of what’s allowed when necessary — but that doesn’t mean we have to like them when they do it.
Anyway, here are the goals from the wild Liverpool vs Crystal Palace highlights.
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace Highlights
34’ — Andros Townsend goal (0-1)
#LigaPremierTD ¡Sorpresa en Anfield! Lo gana @CPFC con gran gol de Townsend pic.twitter.com/HN4Rny1lHJ
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) January 19, 2019
46’ — Mo Salah goal (1-1)
#LigaPremierTD @MoSalah le dio el empate rápido al @LFC ante @CPFC pic.twitter.com/PLbLY1JauZ
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) January 19, 2019
53’ — Roberto Firmino goal (2-1)
#LigaPremierTD Firmino pone todo en orden. Ya lo gana @LFC pic.twitter.com/bojTKt4Zp0
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) January 19, 2019
65’ — James Tomkins goal (2-2)
#LigaPremiertD Tomkins de nuevo pone el marcador igualado para @CPFC pic.twitter.com/FNvVOWmAaH
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) January 19, 2019
75’ — Mo Salah goal/Speroni howler (3-2)
#LigaPremierTD ¡Goles que no se perdonan! Doblete de @MoSalah para devolver la ventaja al @LFC pic.twitter.com/vNdHCoRHCa
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) January 19, 2019
93’ — Sadio Mané goal (4-2)
Show me the Mané! GOAL Sadio! pic.twitter.com/VqoUPE9AOd
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 19, 2019
95’ — Max Meyer (4-3)
#LigaPremierTD Max Meyer acercó tarde al @CPFC en un partido liquidado. pic.twitter.com/99VxNOG6om
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) January 19, 2019
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