The last of Gameweek 2’s fixtures, Liverpool travel down south to Crystal Palace after not making any differentiation between pre-season and competitive fixtures following their 4-0 opening rout over West Ham at Anfield last weekend.
With reports that the odds have been slashed for Liverpool to take their first English league title in almost three decades following the injury sustained by immediate rival Manchester City’s panjandrum Kevin De Bruyne, the bubble of euphoria currently enjoyed by Palace with the securing of Wilfried Zaha to a long-term contract as well as their 2-0 win over Fulham will be hard to sustain when they welcome Jurgen Klopp’s marauding side.
Here The Sportsman looks at the 3 Key Battles that are likely to take place on Monday night at Selhurst Park.
Mamadou Sakho v Sadio Mané
Two years ago, the imperious defender Sakho was famously scolded and dismissed in San Francisco by manager Jurgen Klopp whilst on Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the USA, the relationship eventually smouldering and resulting in the Frenchman being sent to the capital the following transfer window.
Since moving to Selhurst Park, the rejuvenation has been remarkable, avoiding the Mendy/Evra social media route he was clambering down, gaining the adoration of Eagles fans and the respect of wider commentary from forming a formidable partnership with James Tomkins.
In the 14 games Sakho and Tomkins have now played together since the former’s first arrival in January 2017, they have never lost a game together; the 2-0 victory over Fulham last weekend making it remarkably 11 wins and three draws, conceding just eight goals through the period when the defensive duo have been able to be selected.
The sincere argument that they are currently the most reliable centre-back pairing in the Premier League is about to be put under its greatest strain yet; the effective comradery and consistency facing perhaps the deadliest triptych in continental football.
Should Sakho & Tomkins survive the test of the rampaging Sadio Mané, Robert Firmino and Mohamed Salah, than praise should be unremitting.
However, Sakho may have only crossed paths with forward Mané briefly at Anfield but will be well aware that the 26-year-old Senegalese is picking up a nasty habit of scoring against Palace; the two most recent clashes benefiting Liverpool to win by single-goal margins thanks to Mane’s contributions.
2017: 💥
2018: 💥💥
There's just something about Sadio Mane and season openers...
Aaron Wan-Bissaka v Naby Keita
The 20-year-old Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been thrust into the spotlight by Palace manager Roy Hodgson and has coped extremely admirably. Playing throughout pre-season and obviously favoured by Hodgson to cement his place over the season, the right-back started as he means to continue with a man-of-the-match performance away at Craven Cottage, complementing the effective Patrick van Aanholt on the opposite flank and similarly providing an assist to go with his clean sheet.
Wan-Bissaka#s true potential should be tested by how well he copes with the threat of Liverpool’s £50million man Naby Keita, already a lot of observers extremely premature contender for Player of the Season.
Keita seems ready to thrive after his prolonged languishing at Leipzig for the 2017/18 season before he was allowed to complete his move to Merseyside, but didn’t waste 26-year-old stamping his authority on opening weekend, dictating play with an 88% pass completion and getting the Kop salivating.
Operating on the left of a midfield three, Keita should be encouraged to challenge the fledging Wan Bissaka.
Christian Benteke v Virgil Van Dijk
Memories of ‘Crystanbul’- where Palace produced a marvellous point-gaining comeback after being three goals down to a Liverpool side whose dreams of gaining the Premier League were consequently extinguished- are getting less vivid, but one recent Eagles’ one-upmanship over the Reds displayed the mercurial talents of yet another player Klopp let leave to South London.
It was ultimately up to Christian Benteke to turn around a deficit brought by Philippe Coutinho by providing a brace and produce a historic win for Crystal Palace at Anfield in April 2017, and marking the Eagles only win over Liverpool in their last six meetings.
The man who will no doubt be in charge of shackling the Belgian this time around, Virgil Van Dijk has reportedly brought calm and stability to a previous erratic defence since his January move from Southampton, but one could argue that the Dutchman has yet to show signs of his £75million value when up against a significant test.
Boisterous and battling and gifted with a benevolent finishing, Benteke can show these qualities on his day, and will relish reminding Liverpool off his talents.
Two imposing players, the most interesting aspect of this will be to see who comes out top of the thrilling aerial duels that will no doubt be sprinkled throughout the match.
The match between Crystal Palace and Liverpool kicks off at 8pm on Monday 20th August.
You can follow the game live with The Sportsman below.
