Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool secured a third-place finish in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign as the Merseysiders concluded the season with a 2-0 win over the visiting Crystal Palace side on Sunday.
With other results going their way, a brace from Sadio Mane ensured all three points for the Reds who despite a largely misfiring campaign have the assurance of Champions League football for the forthcoming season.
MATCH PROCEEDINGS
The hosts started well and could have taken an early lead through the young Rhys Williams who was left unmarked in the attacking box but the centre-back’s header from Andy Robertson’s corner delivery cleared the bar.
Salah had a couple of changes through on goal but was denied on either occasion with Palace shot-stopper Guaita being called into action quite often in the opening 30 minutes of play at Anfield.
But the deadlock was finally broken and Liverpool took a well-deserved lead through Sadio Mane who poked home the opener past Guaita to make it 1-0 for the hosts.
Klopp’s men were on the front foot in the early minutes of the second-half as well with Salah trying his utmost best to get his 23rd goal of the campaign and tie with Spurs striker Harry Kane for the Golden Boot.
The Egyptian, however, had to settle for an assist as he set up his attacking partner Mane for his second goal of the game around the hour-mark which rubber-stamped the win for the Merseysiders.
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𝐖Our final ten @premierleague games… ❤️
The Reds dug deep when we needed it most 😍 pic.twitter.com/2K5ZV3BVix
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 23, 2021
Defensive duties were fulfilled by Liverpool as per expectations in the closing stages of the game with Palace rarely possessing a threat on Alisson Becker’s goal and the final whistle marked the end of the 2020-21 campaign for Liverpool who ensured a third-place finish in the standings.