English Premier League: Sel-hurts yet again as Liverpool crash 3-1

Without a league win in last four games, Reds languish on 12th

KARACHI: Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers opted for a different strategy with the induction of Rickie Lambert, who scored in the opening minutes, but a leaky Liverpool defence conceded three goals as The Reds lost 3-1 against minnows Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

A wet Sunday afternoon saw Rodgers side take the lead in only the second minute of the game as former Southampton teammates Adam Lallana and Lambert linked up.

Lallana’s cross ripped apart the Crystal Palace defence and allowed Lambert to score his second goal of the season for Liverpool. The introduction of Lambert brought fluidity in Liverpool’s attack with the 32-year-old involved in the thick of the action in the Palace half.

However, Liverpool couldn’t capitalise on the lead and sloppy defending saw Palace equalise in the 17th minute of the match through Dwight Gayle as the lively Yannick Bolasie’s skidding drive cannoned back off the base of the post for Gayle to convert on the rebound.

Joe Ledley found the net in the 78th minute to give Palace the unlikely lead, while Mile Jadinak sealed the win in the 81st with a spectacular free-kick into the top corner.

The loss leaves Liverpool languishing in 12th place with 14 points, three behind rivals Everton and 18 behind leaders Chelsea.

Van Gaal backs United keeper De Gea to keep improving

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is adamant that goalkeeper David de Gea can still get better with the Spaniard producing a superb performance in the 2-1 Premier League win against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The Spanish number one kept the Gunners at bay with a man-of-the-match display at the Emirates to propel United into the top four for the first time this season.

“His quality is exactly on the line,” said van Gaal. “I'm used to this quality. But he also has to improve in other aspects of the game.”

Chelsea 'beautiful' but unique: Mourinho

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes it is too early to compare his current side with his title-winning teams of the past despite a record-breaking start to the Premier League campaign.

Saturday's comfortable 2-0 victory at home to 10-man West Bromwich Albion extended the London club's lead at the head of the table to seven points.

"I cannot compare teams," said Mourinho. "You cannot compare teams that have won everything with teams that have won nothing. And this team has won nothing. This is a new team.”

A return of 32 points from the opening 12 games marks the club's best ever start to a season, surpassing the previous mark of 31 set by the 2005-06 title-winners during Mourinho's first stint at the club.

 

 

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