KEY POINTS

  • Liverpool defeated Crystal Palace 3-1 in the league on Sunday
  • The Reds now have 48 points from 22 league matches
  • Oxlade-Chamberlain has now scored in two consecutive league games

Jurgen Klopp revealed he thanked Alisson Becker to save their “backside” yet again as the goalkeeper made some incredible saves in Liverpool’s 3-1 win Sunday.

Virgil van Dijk put Liverpool 1-0 up at Selhurst Park before Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled Liverpool’s lead in the first half. Alisson saved well from Michael Olise and Jean-Philippe Mateta before Odsonne Edouard pulled one back 10 minutes after the break.

In the post-match conference, Klopp revealed, "I said to him [Alisson] now: Thank you for saving our backside again. He said: 'That’s my job'. Of course, it is very helpful to have a world-class goalkeeper at the back!"

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker's errors have played a major part in three consecutive defeats
Alisson Becker has been with Liverpool since 2018. POOL / Paul ELLIS

Fabinho's 89th-minute penalty let Liverpool breathe a sigh of relief. However, the decision turned out to be controversial. Referee Kevin Friend was told by the VAR to check the pitch side monitor in order to reconsider his initial decision not to award a foul when Diogo Jota was brought down Vicente Guaita in the box.

The decision was slammed by fans on social media and by many pundits, including Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who said it was not a penalty "in a million years."

"I haven’t seen it back but I don’t think I need to. VAR thought it was a penalty, the ref saw it as a penalty and they’re the people. The Crystal Palace people saw it as no penalty, I understand, but I think that’s the proof you need," Klopp told Sky Sports after his side’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace.

Last week, Oxlade-Chamberlain injured his ankle shortly after scoring Liverpool’s second goal against Brentford last week. The 28-year-old midfielder, who has had injury issues throughout his career, said he worked "really hard" this week to ensure he started against Crystal Palace.

"Obviously I came off last week with my ankle and I’ve been pushing and working really hard this week to make sure I got back for this game. I managed to turn it around and it was nice to get back out there and I’m happy to be able to contribute again with a goal. I’m obviously filling in down that right side while Mo’s away; it’s quite big shoes to fill there in terms of goals and providing that threat in behind," Oxlade-Chamberlain told Liverpool’s media.

The English central-midfielder now has scored three goals and two assists in 26 competitive appearances for Liverpool in the ongoing campaign.

Liverpool have been without their key goal scorers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane for four games now but the Reds have picked up points in each of them.

Liverpool secured the 3-1 win just a day after Manchester City finally dropped points in the Premier League. The Reds are still nine points behind Pep Guardiola’s side but Klopp’s side has a game in hand.

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