English Premier League
Result: Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace
Date: 19 August 2017
Venue: Anfield
African star Sadio Mane scored the only goal of the game to hand Liverpool a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday afternoon.
Palace got an early free kick which was whipped in by Jason Puncheon who found James Tomkins in the box whose header went wide of goal.
Daniel Sturridge twisted and turned past two players before getting his shot away but the striker saw his effort sail over the bar.
It was a tactical game as both teams stood resilient in defense and neither willing to budge. Liverpool's Roberto Firminho struck a well driven shot from distance but saw his effort well saved by Wayne Hennessey.
Palace were not sitting back and they constructed an attack of their own which saw Puncheon test Simon Mignolet but the keeper was up to the challenge.
The first half ended 0 – 0 with both teams trying to get the breakthrough.
Former Liverpool player Christian Benteke had a glorious chance to get the opening goal after a great cut back from Loftus-Cheek but the forward blasted his effort over the bar from six yards out.
The breakthrough came for the home side as Sadio Mane finished off a move he started on the left flank to give his team a deserved lead.
With a minute left on the clock Klopp looked to seal all three points as he introduced Dejan Lovren in place of Roberto Firminho to strengthen his defense.
The Reds managed to hold on to their lead and see out the result which saw them win their first match of the season.
