Liverpool booked a trip to the FA Cup quarter-finals, coming back against a bogey team, Crystal Palace (2-1), at Selhurst Park. It was beginning to look like it could be one of those days again as the Reds went into the break down a goal, despite dominating the first half but unable to capitalise on any of their 17 shots. However, the Reds returned, making some minor adjustments and found a way to keep their unbeaten run alive, scoring two within 9 minutes to advance and avoid a potential banana skin match.
Here are four findings from today’s match.
Massive Migs – Simon Mignolet deserves massive credit for turning his season around upon his return. Despite Liverpool conceding 3 goals in the last two matches, after a run of clean sheets, the Belgian has continued to play exceptionally well. He can be faulted for none of the last 3 goals. In fact, he even got a piece of Harry Kane’s nearly-free chance against Tottenham. Decisive and aggressive, his performances have greatly improved as much as the defence. More impressively, he has turned away a handful of match-winning shots to keep Liverpool in the last two contests that could have just as easily slipped away from the Reds. If the reports are true, his fiancé may deserve a song for helping him find the form that encouraged his purchase.
Sorting the system – Since Liverpool have moved to three in defence with wing-backs the results have revitalised the side and the season. Once again, when attacking on the break they can still carve teams open, exploiting the space behind to great effect. However, at times, the Reds can be lured into playing too narrow in the attacking third. This only ever happens when teams drop deep and get 10 or more behind the ball. Still, occasionally the interchangeable, swirling midfielders’ efforts to penetrate allow the defence to collapse into an even more compact block, making them even more difficult to breakdown. Fortunately, the shape change at the half nullified the issue. Conversely, teams like Palace with pacey, wide attackers are beginning to cause some problems for the new look Liverpool system, which is something to monitor.
Team spirit soaring – Yet again, Liverpool needed to find a way to secure the result after conceding. Despite going down to Crystal Palace, against the run of play, the Reds never looked rattled even though playing at their own recent house of horrors – Selhurst Park. Instead of heads dropping they seemed to sharpen their focus and continue to pin back the Eagles defence, probing for an equaliser. It would take an adjustment in the team’s shape, substituting Mario Balotelli for Lazar Markovic, for the Reds to seize the advantage. Still, manager Brendan Rodgers has found a way to get his squad firing regardless of personnel being used.
Pairing Sturridge and Balotelli – Before Daniel Sturridge’s lengthy spell out of the team there was that match at White Hart Lane, when Liverpool looked like the Liverpool everyone expected. It featured the new pairing of Sturridge and recently arrived Balotelli up front with considerable promise on display. This match included the first minutes with the two on the pitch together since that late August fixture. Adding another striker and the subsequent change in team shape opened the game for Liverpool allowing more midfielders to drive deeper forward on breaks, ultimately leading to the sublime equaliser of Jordan Henderson’s deft cross for Sturridge’s stunning volley. It is a partnership that can continue to grow and provides a clear plan B as teams begin to sort out the newly fashioned system that Reds have been plying so successfully.
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