Liverpool Coast Over Crystal Palace

3-1

Crystal Palace have scraped their way back into the Premier League and have struggled to compete with the top flight talent.  Crystal Palace have just one win this season over the last-place Sunderland.  Liverpool on the other hand have gotten off to a great start and came away today's match with a comfortable win.

Liverpool again played with only three defenders, but the combination of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge in the attack made up for the absence in the back.  Getting things going Suarez passed to Enrique making an overlap run inside the Crystal Palace box who quickly played the ball back to Suarez.  Before he could shoot though Suarez slipped, but from the ground he managed to get enough on the ball to beat the keeper (13').  Moments later Daniel Sturridge added a second goal when he carved up defender Delaney to work a shot.  Sturridge hit the shot hard with his left foot giving keeper Speroni no chance (17').

Later a penalty was called for Liverpool when Raheem Sterling was pulled back making a run into the box by Dean Moxey.  Sterling was right on the edge of the box when the foul occurred and may have been just outside, but the call was made by the sideline official and the referee complied.  Steven Gerrard scored the penalty to give Liverpool a 3-0 lead going into half-time (38').

Crystal Palace made two substitutes at the start of the second-half that gave the club a positive charge.  José Campaña and Dwight Gayle came on and helped Crystal Palace get on the scoreboard.  A freekick near the Liverpool end-line gave Crystal Palace the chance to attack like a corner-kick.  Gayle won a glancing header flicked to far-post that found the net (77').  The visitors could not create any other goals and Liverpool take three points.

For the time Liverpool are on top of the League table, one game ahead of Arsenal who play West Bromwich Albion tomorrow.  Next week the Premier League will not have games with another round of important World Cup qualifiers coming.