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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Ian Doyle

Alisson fumes as wrong Liverpool player targeted by Crystal Palace fans

Liverpool kept up their Premier League title challenge with a hard-earned victory at Crystal Palace.

Virgil van Dijk, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Fabinho all scored as the Reds earned a 3-1 victory on Sunday.

The result means Jurgen Klopp’s side have now moved within nine points of leaders Manchester City with a game in hand.

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But there was plenty that went unnoticed or under the radar during the 90 minutes at Selhurst Park.

Alisson unimpressed

Alisson Becker was certainly a busy man on Sunday, his performance rightly earning him the man-of-the-match award.

Among a number of fine saves was one that saw him backpedalling towards his own goal before clawing out Michael Olise's lob and then smashing into the goalpost.

The manner in which the sore Brazilian then turned disapprovingly towards his team-mates and flung his arms out wide spoke volumes.

"Is there any chance that any you might give me a bit of a hand here?" is undoubtedly what he was thinking. Plus swear words.

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Ox wrongly picked on

Crystal Palace fans weren’t too chuffed with some of the officiating on Sunday.

And chief among their complaints was the award of the penalty for Liverpool’s third goal, with a number of supporters staying behind to air their grievances.

“Never a penalty!”, “S***e referee!” and “Cheat!” were just some of the cries raining down from those who remained in the stands.

The issue was the only person within earshot was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, performing post-match interview duties on the touchline. He’d been substituted a good 25 minutes before the penalty was awarded.

Matip gotta Matip

Joel Matip has long acquired cult status among Liverpool supporters thanks to his endearing idiosyncrasies.

The defender, though, had a bit of a tough time against Palace, with his forays towards the opposing box conspicuous by their absence.

Nevertheless, Matip did find himself inside the area during open play after Liverpool continued to probe after a set-piece.

However, his failed attempt at a Cruyff turn away from two Palace players underlined that, for all his roaming upfield, Matip is a centre-back for a reason.

Vieira is no Friend of the referee

With his rangy legs and bursts of pace, Patrick Vieira was never the slowest on the field during his playing days.

And the Crystal Palace boss showed he still has a sprint in him after the final whistle.

Vieira made a point of speeding up as he left the field to catch up with referee Kevin Friend and his fellow officials before leading them down the tunnel.

Given Vieira's disgruntlement at some of the decisions during the game, it's just as well for Friend and co that we'll probably never really know what happened next.

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