• LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7. The Brazilian misjudged an early effort but recovered to make a last-gasp save. He never looked ruffled again and was quick off his line to kill off any danger. AFP
    LIVERPOOL PLAYER RATINGS: Alisson Becker - 7. The Brazilian misjudged an early effort but recovered to make a last-gasp save. He never looked ruffled again and was quick off his line to kill off any danger. AFP
  • James Milner - 7. The 35-year-old was given a tough examination by Zaha but rose to the challenge in his usual robust style. He even got forward and supplied a number of crosses. Getty Images
    James Milner - 7. The 35-year-old was given a tough examination by Zaha but rose to the challenge in his usual robust style. He even got forward and supplied a number of crosses. Getty Images
  • Ibrahima Konate - 6. The Frenchman was a little nervous on his debut but showed great strength in the challenge. He grew into the game as it progressed. Getty Images
    Ibrahima Konate - 6. The Frenchman was a little nervous on his debut but showed great strength in the challenge. He grew into the game as it progressed. Getty Images
  • Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman had to be alert against Benteke. It was his busiest game since returning from injury and he played a part in creating Salah's goal. Getty Images
    Virgil van Dijk - 7. The Dutchman had to be alert against Benteke. It was his busiest game since returning from injury and he played a part in creating Salah's goal. Getty Images
  • Konstantinos Tsimikas - 7. The Greek found Ayew a handful but came out of the duel on top. He provided an outlet going forward and contributed to the first two goals. Getty Images
    Konstantinos Tsimikas - 7. The Greek found Ayew a handful but came out of the duel on top. He provided an outlet going forward and contributed to the first two goals. Getty Images
  • Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain was relentless in the midfield and tested Guaita. He made way for Origi with two minutes left. PA
    Jordan Henderson - 7. The captain was relentless in the midfield and tested Guaita. He made way for Origi with two minutes left. PA
  • Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was adventurous in the first half and a bit more cautious in the second period. A disciplined and clever performance. Reuters
    Fabinho - 7. The Brazilian was adventurous in the first half and a bit more cautious in the second period. A disciplined and clever performance. Reuters
  • Thiago Alcantara - 7. The 30-year-old got into advanced positions and forced Guaita to make a good save. He was strong in the midfield, breaking up Palace attacks and winning the ball. He limped off and was replaced by Keita just after the hour. Reuters
    Thiago Alcantara - 7. The 30-year-old got into advanced positions and forced Guaita to make a good save. He was strong in the midfield, breaking up Palace attacks and winning the ball. He limped off and was replaced by Keita just after the hour. Reuters
  • Mohamed Salah - 8. The Egyptian was a constant threat and his header led to the opening goal. He scored a deserved second and showed his selflessness by coming to Milner’s aid defensively. PA
    Mohamed Salah - 8. The Egyptian was a constant threat and his header led to the opening goal. He scored a deserved second and showed his selflessness by coming to Milner’s aid defensively. PA
  • Diogo Jota - 5. The Portuguese smashed the ball over the bar from close range when it looked easier to score. It was not his finest performance and he was replaced by Jones with 14 minutes to go. AP
    Diogo Jota - 5. The Portuguese smashed the ball over the bar from close range when it looked easier to score. It was not his finest performance and he was replaced by Jones with 14 minutes to go. AP
  • Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese loves playing Palace. He has now scored in nine successive games against the south London club. His sharp strike from a narrow angle – his 100th goal for Liverpool – set them on their way to victory. AFP
    Sadio Mane - 7. The Senegalese loves playing Palace. He has now scored in nine successive games against the south London club. His sharp strike from a narrow angle – his 100th goal for Liverpool – set them on their way to victory. AFP
  • SUBS: Naby Keita (62') - 7. Replaced Thiago and battled manfully during Palace’s best spell. The Guinean capped his day by scoring a superb volley. Getty Images
    SUBS: Naby Keita (62') - 7. Replaced Thiago and battled manfully during Palace’s best spell. The Guinean capped his day by scoring a superb volley. Getty Images
  • Curtis Jones (76') - 6. The 20-year-old came on for Jota. He showed flashes of skill and had a shot deflected away from goal. Getty Images
    Curtis Jones (76') - 6. The 20-year-old came on for Jota. He showed flashes of skill and had a shot deflected away from goal. Getty Images
  • Divock Origi (88') - N/A. The striker was given a short runout in the last two minutes when replacing Henderson. There was little chance for him to make an impact as Liverpool ran the clock down. AFP
    Divock Origi (88') - N/A. The striker was given a short runout in the last two minutes when replacing Henderson. There was little chance for him to make an impact as Liverpool ran the clock down. AFP
  • CRYSTAL PALACE PLAYER RATINGS: Vicente Guaita - 6. The Spaniard made a number of good saves and was unfortunate to be beaten by Mane after a fine block of Salah’s header for the opening goal. Not much chance of saving the second or third. AFP
    CRYSTAL PALACE PLAYER RATINGS: Vicente Guaita - 6. The Spaniard made a number of good saves and was unfortunate to be beaten by Mane after a fine block of Salah’s header for the opening goal. Not much chance of saving the second or third. AFP
  • Joel Ward - 6. The full back fought hard and closed down a Jota effort. He worked relentlessly and was one of his team’s better performers. Getty Images
    Joel Ward - 6. The full back fought hard and closed down a Jota effort. He worked relentlessly and was one of his team’s better performers. Getty Images
  • Joachim Andersen - 5. The Dane was watchful and solid for most of the game. He tired towards the end as Palace drifted out of the match. EPA
    Joachim Andersen - 5. The Dane was watchful and solid for most of the game. He tired towards the end as Palace drifted out of the match. EPA
  • Marc Guehi - 5. The Ivorian formed an effective pairing with Andersen but, like his team-mate, was worn down by Liverpool’s pace and movement. AFP
    Marc Guehi - 5. The Ivorian formed an effective pairing with Andersen but, like his team-mate, was worn down by Liverpool’s pace and movement. AFP
  • Tyrick Mitchell - 5. The 22-year-old had his hands full with Salah but stuck to the task. He attempted to get forward but did so with less frequency towards the end. EPA
    Tyrick Mitchell - 5. The 22-year-old had his hands full with Salah but stuck to the task. He attempted to get forward but did so with less frequency towards the end. EPA
  • Conor Gallagher - 6. The 21-year-old was bright throughout. He drove into a good shooting position but could not get his feet right and ended up stretching for the ball. Getty Images
    Conor Gallagher - 6. The 21-year-old was bright throughout. He drove into a good shooting position but could not get his feet right and ended up stretching for the ball. Getty Images
  • Cheikhou Kouyate - 5. The Senegalese did not lack effort but he was unable to compete against Thiago and Fabinho. Withdrawn with eight minutes to go and replaced by Olise. Getty Images
    Cheikhou Kouyate - 5. The Senegalese did not lack effort but he was unable to compete against Thiago and Fabinho. Withdrawn with eight minutes to go and replaced by Olise. Getty Images
  • James McArthur - 5. The Scot kept busy but graft was not enough against talented opponents. He was taken off with 25 minutes left when Riedewald joined the action. Getty Images
    James McArthur - 5. The Scot kept busy but graft was not enough against talented opponents. He was taken off with 25 minutes left when Riedewald joined the action. Getty Images
  • Jordan Ayew - 5. The Ghanaian tried to put pressure on the left side of the defence but did not achieve his aim. His shooting was very poor throughout. PA
    Jordan Ayew - 5. The Ghanaian tried to put pressure on the left side of the defence but did not achieve his aim. His shooting was very poor throughout. PA
  • Christian Benteke - 5. The Belgian won a number of free headers in the opposition area but failed to make the most of them. Taken off in the 65th minute and replaced by Edouard. AFP
    Christian Benteke - 5. The Belgian won a number of free headers in the opposition area but failed to make the most of them. Taken off in the 65th minute and replaced by Edouard. AFP
  • Wilfried Zaha - 6. The Ivorian caused problems down the left and gave Alisson a fright early on. His passing was poor but his movement good. Reuters
    Wilfried Zaha - 6. The Ivorian caused problems down the left and gave Alisson a fright early on. His passing was poor but his movement good. Reuters
  • SUBS: Odsonne Edouard (65') - 5. The Frenchman came on for Benteke. He had a great opportunity in the area but dithered on the ball and allowed Alisson to gather. AP
    SUBS: Odsonne Edouard (65') - 5. The Frenchman came on for Benteke. He had a great opportunity in the area but dithered on the ball and allowed Alisson to gather. AP
  • Jairo Riedewald (65') - 5. The Dutchman replaced McArthur in the 65th minute and started well but faded as Liverpool got on top. He did not give his team the boost they needed. EPA
    Jairo Riedewald (65') - 5. The Dutchman replaced McArthur in the 65th minute and started well but faded as Liverpool got on top. He did not give his team the boost they needed. EPA
  • Michael Olise (88') – N/A. The 19-year-old entered the game with eight minutes left, replacing Kouyate. By that point the contest was over and the Frenchman was unable to give Palace a spark (no match photo available). Getty Images
    Michael Olise (88') – N/A. The 19-year-old entered the game with eight minutes left, replacing Kouyate. By that point the contest was over and the Frenchman was unable to give Palace a spark (no match photo available). Getty Images

Sport

Football

Liverpool v Crystal Palace player ratings: Mohamed Salah 8, Sadio Mane 7; Wilfried Zaha 6

Reds claim a 3-0 win at Anfield to extend unbeaten start to Premier League season

Tony Evans

September 18, 2021

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Liverpool forward Sadio Mane scored his 100th goal for the club to help secure a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace in an entertaining Premier League contest at Anfield on Saturday.

Mane turned the ball in from close range just before halftime as he claimed a Premier League record for the most consecutive goals against one club with his ninth versus Palace. He has 10 in all competitions against the London club.

Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita, with a superb volley, added late strikes to give the scoreline an emphatic look after the home fans had earlier been left aghast over Diogo Jota's early contender for miss of the season.

Mane brought up his century of goals for the Reds in all competitions, the 18th player to do so, when Salah’s header was pushed into his path by Palace keeper Vicente Guaita to give him an easy finish from close-range after 43 minutes.

The goal followed a shocking miss by Jota from a similar situation as Thiago Alcantara’s header was only parried to the forward by Guaita but, with the goal at his mercy, the Portugal international blazed over the bar from all of two yards.

Tony Evans provides the player ratings from Anfield in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Updated: September 18, 2021, 5:44 PM
LiverpoolPremier League