{"id":1769,"date":"2016-10-29T17:55:51","date_gmt":"2016-10-29T21:55:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=1769"},"modified":"2016-10-29T17:55:51","modified_gmt":"2016-10-29T21:55:51","slug":"liverpool-winning-mini-leagues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2016\/10\/29\/liverpool-winning-mini-leagues\/","title":{"rendered":"Liverpool Are Winning Their Mini Leagues"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool<\/strong> are winning their “mini leagues”. Currently in a stretch of games against teams below them, the Reds have started this mini league by taking maximum points. West Bromwich Albion<\/strong> were soundly beaten at Anfield<\/strong> last week. This week, Liverpool travelled to South London to take on recent bogey team Crystal Palace<\/strong>. In a fascinating game at Selhurst Park<\/strong>, Liverpool eventually claimed all three points.<\/p>\n

LIVERPOOL ARE WINNING THEIR MINI LEAGUES<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Tactics<\/b><\/h2>\n

Crystal Palace employed familiar tactics against Liverpool. Manager <\/span>Alan Pardew<\/b> set up his side to play in a Burnley versus Liverpool style. Former Liverpool striker <\/span>Christian Benteke <\/b>was the initial attacking focal point for a defensively-shaped Palace.<\/span><\/p>\n

J\u00fcrgen Klopp<\/b> returned to what is increasingly looking like his <\/span>prefered starting team<\/span><\/a>, with one notable exception in the return of <\/span>Alberto Moreno<\/b> at leftback. \u00a0As a result of the starting formations, a familiar pattern developed as the match went on. <\/span><\/p>\n

Liverpool deployed their gegenpressing style, with the dangerous front trio of <\/span>Philippe Coutinho<\/b>, <\/span>Roberto Firmino<\/b> and <\/span>Sadio Man\u00e9 <\/b>providing <\/b>the main attacking threat. Palace were content to defend deep and were looking to counter.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Recap<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first half saw Liverpool dominate possession and carry more of the attacking thrust. Emre Can<\/strong> finished a sweeping move to put the Reds into the lead. A game of headed goals then ensued.<\/p>\n

James McArthur<\/strong> scored a Palace equalizer\u00a0through a gifted header from a terrible Dejan Lovren<\/strong> backpass. In light of his defensive error, Lovren needed to make amends. He did so by smashing a header past Steve Mandanda<\/strong> to send Liverpool ahead.<\/p>\n

McArthur headed level once again via a lovely cross from Wilfried Zaha<\/strong>. Joel Matip<\/strong> then fizzed another header into the roof of the net. Liverpool\u00a0held a\u00a03-2 advantage\u00a0at the end of a breathtaking first half.<\/p>\n

The second half was not as free flowing. Palace grew into the\u00a0match and pressed Liverpool. Midfielder <\/span>Jordan Henderson<\/b> produced the pass of the game to send Firmino clear, and the <\/span>Brazilian clipped the ball over Mandanda to fire Liverpool into a two-goal lead. The Reds went into game-management mode and claimed another three points away from home.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mini Leagues<\/b><\/h2>\n

Liverpool have already negotiated a very tough opening mini league\u00a0during their campaign. Matches against <\/span>Arsenal<\/b>, <\/span>Tottenham Hotspur<\/b>, <\/span>Chelsea<\/b>, <\/span>Leicester City<\/b> and <\/span>Manchester<\/b> United<\/b> have yielded 11 points from a possible 15. The current mini league comprises a run of\u00a0eight games against lower-placed teams. Prior to contesting the <\/span>Merseyside<\/b> derby away to <\/span>Everton<\/b> on December 19th, Liverpool\u2019s current form suggests that 20 points from those 24 are very achievable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If Liverpool can go into the start of the festive fixtures with 14 more points from their<\/span> current total of 23<\/span><\/a>, a genuine title challenge would be firmly in their own hands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n