Liverpool vs. Crystal Palace: Winners and Losers from Premier League
Jurgen Klopp suffered his first defeat since taking charge of Liverpool, as Crystal Palace triumphed at Anfield in the Premier League for the second time in 2015.
Scott Dann's header in the 82nd minute proved enough for Palace to clinch a 2-1 away win.
The Eagles had won the same fixture 3-1 last season, which ruined Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard's Anfield farewell in May.
The result lifts the Eagles above their opponents into eighth place in the table. Liverpool, meanwhile, sit in 10th place, behind Merseyside rivals Everton on goal difference.
Yannick Bolasie capitalised on an error by Emre Can to break the deadlock midway through the first half.
Liverpool were rocked by falling behind but worked their way back into the game as the half progressed.
They grabbed an equaliser when Philippe Coutinho was in the right place to slot home Nathaniel Clyne's low cross, making it 1-1 just before the interval.
However, Dann—a boyhood Liverpool fan—settled the match in Palace's favour, heading home at the second attempt from a corner.
Here, Bleacher Report picks out the winners and losers from what was a pulsating Premier League game.
Winner: Scott Dann
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Scott Dann may have once dreamed of scoring for Liverpool at Anfield. Instead, the defender upset the Kop by scoring the winner for Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Dann was in the right place to head home the rebound after Reds goalkeeper Simon Mignolet kept out the defender's initial effort from a corner.
Alan Pardew said in his post-match press conference, per Crystal Palace's official Twitter feed, "I think he [Dann] had about 15 family members here today! His goal sums him up. You could see he was going to win that ball."
Dann wasn't just effective attacking the ball in the opposing penalty box, though. He was also excellent at the other end of the field, teaming up with central-defensive partner Damien Delaney to keep Liverpool at bay.
The pair coped well with the physical presence of Cristian Benteke, denying the Belgian a fourth goal in his last five Premier League outings.
Loser: Mamadou Sakho
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Mamadou Sakho has been in excellent form for Liverpool of late, the player seemingly rejuvenated by the arrival of new Reds manager Jurgen Klopp.
Kristian Walsh of the Liverpool Echo wrote prior to the Crystal Palace game, "Mamadou Sakho has stepped up a level, but that may simply be because Klopp is playing him regularly in central defence."
However, the Frenchman was forced off during the first half with a knee injury.
Sakho was hurt when landing awkwardly following an aerial challenge with Yannick Bolasie.
He initially attempted to carry on playing, even though Liverpool had prepared Dejan Lovren to come on. The home crowd cheered when they saw the defender trot back on, having made a Lazarus-like comeback.
But, the recovery proved to be short-lived. Sakho had to be subbed in the 40th minute.
You can keep up to date with the latest news on his health with Bleacher Report.
Winner: Wilfried Zaha
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Wilfried Zaha never made it at Manchester United, but he always seems right at home with Crystal Palace.
The winger, in his second spell with the Eagles, was excellent for the visitors at Anfield, causing plenty of problems for Liverpool's defence.
It was his cross that resulted in team-mate Yannick Bolasie—who was also lively throughout—scoring the opening goal, albeit with an unlikely assist from Liverpool's Emre Can.
Zaha went on to provide Palace with a much-needed outlet up front in the second half.
He made one impressive run down the right flank, knocking off attempted challenges from both Lucas Leiva and Philippe Coutinho to set up a glorious chance Bakary Sako failed to take.
Loser: Emre Can
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In an interview with Joe Bernstein of the Mail, Emre Can recently admitted: "It’s difficult to go out when there is a match every third day. There isn’t that much time, it’s either preparation or recovery, and I would rather spend my time with friends at home."
Can certainly made it look difficult on Sunday against Crystal Palace.
The German was off the pace after the midweek trip to Russia for the Europa League tie with Rubin Kazan, with his first-half error gifting the Eagles an opening goal.
Can was in a good position to clear Wilfried Zaha's cross, but instead he tried to lay it off to team-mate Lucas Leiva.
His good intentions only resulted in gifting the ball to Yannick Bolasie, who took a touch to set himself before firing a left-footed shot beyond Simon Mignolet in the Liverpool goal.
Can was replaced in the second half, making way for Roberto Firmino.
Winner: Alan Pardew
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Crystal Palace still haven't seen a striker score a Premier League goal this season.
Yet, despite the lack of goals from their front men, the Eagles are always a handful to deal with. Much of the credit must go to manager Alan Pardew.
The former Newcastle United boss didn't select a recognised central forward in his starting XI, instead going with the combination of Yannick Bolasie, Bakary Sako and Wilfried Zaha up front.
The selection paid off—Bolasie scored the first from Zaha's cross, while the latter also set up a golden opportunity for Sako that went begging.
Pardew got involved at times with rival Jurgen Klopp in a battle of two huge egos on the touchline.
In the end, though, the visiting manager had the last laugh. He turned after the final whistle, fist raised in defiance, to salute the visiting fans who had made the journey north.
Bolasie, who scored Palace's opening goal, praised his manager afterward, telling the club's official website:"It [the win] is down to the gaffer's tactics. He knows them inside out. He always gets it spot on [against Liverpool]. We know how to exploit their weaknesses."
Loser: Jurgen Klopp
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Well, Jurgen Klopp was going to have to taste defeat with Liverpool at some stage.
The German has made a big impact since his arrival in England, and he went into the game against Crystal Palace looking for a fourth successive win in all competitions.
However, it had been a tough week for Klopp and his squad.
They followed up a Premier League game away at Chelsea last Saturday with a midweek trip to Russia to face Rubin Kazan in the Europa League. They did not arrive home until the early hours of Friday morning.
Still, the demands thrust upon players at clubs playing in Europe is nothing new and should not be used as an excuse in defeat.
Klopp admitted after the game Liverpool had been below par against Palace, per the Premier League's official Twitter feed: "It's important to learn. Today was not enough—we can do better."
Now the Reds boss gets a little breathing space, with international fixtures coming up, before taking his team to current league leaders Manchester City on November 21.
