Liverpool 4-0 Crystal Palace
There have been 30 years of hurt in the red corner of Merseyside as far as the top prize is concerned.
Few would have thought that, when Liverpool were last top dogs in England in 1990, it would take so long for them to return to the summit.
Yet here they are on the brink of grasping what has eluded them for so long. Premier League champions-elect, within touching distance of the trophy they crave more than any other.
In fact, after an evening in which they provided Premier League 2020 highlights galore against opponents who offered little resistance, the job could be even completed within 24 hours.
Should outgoing champions Manchester City fail to beat Chelsea on Thursday, as they did at Stamford Bridge last season, the title will be theirs.
Highlights of the game
In truth, the outcome of this season’s title has not been in doubt in this SBOBET pundit’s mind since early November when Liverpool rode their luck before overtaking City and establishing a lead they never looked like surrendering.
Indeed, it was an advantage that only increased with most passing weeks to the extent that the Premier League 2020 betting odds on a Liverpool title triumph must have stopped being offered some time ago.
Here was further proof why.
First, Trent Alexander-Arnold curled a superb free-kick past the helpless Wayne Hennessey.
Then, after the captain who will soon be lifting the Premier League trophy aloft, Jordan Henderson, hit the post, a first-class ball from Fabinho found Mo Salah and you know the rest!
It was the Brazilian himself who netted the goal of the game early in the second period with a 30-yard piledriver, before the scoring was completed by Sadio Mane – arguably the club’s player of the season – whose run and finish exuded confidence and style.
Game over, title over. Now for the confirmation.
For Palace, this surely ends their slim aspirations of European football next term – that would be some achievement for Roy Hodgson. The 73-year-old manager may have seen most things the game has to offer throughout a fine career, but is still going strong and has revitalised the south London club.
But from the moment their best player, Wilfried Zaha, limped off inside the opening 15 minutes, their best chance of causing a surprise here was gone.
Liverpool are virtually home and hosed and will be deserved champions.
Key statistics
Liverpool are unbeaten in 56 home league matches (won 46, drawn 10) since a 2-1 defeat by Palace in April 2017.
The Reds have won their last 23 league games at Anfield, the best ever winning home run in English top-flight history.
Liverpool have won six successive league games against the Eagles and scored 15 goals in the process.
Alexander-Arnold has been directly involved in 30 Premier League goals since his debut in August 2016. With five goals and 25 assists, that’s at least five more than any other defender in that time.
Mane is the 10th player to score in six consecutive Premier League appearances against a single team and the second to do so for Liverpool after Salah v Bournemouth.
Liverpool have scored more than 100 goals in all competitions for a third consecutive season, the first time they have done so since 1986-87.
Palace’s three most recent league wins over the Reds have all been at Anfield – in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2016-17.
Palace are the only team to have a beaten a Jurgen Klopp-managed Liverpool side more than once at Anfield.
This was Fabinho’s 50th Premier League appearance and his 41st victory – only Chelsea’s Didier Drogba and Arjen Robben and Ederson (all 42) and Aymeric Laporte (43) won more of their opening 50 games in the competition. They also ended those seasons with a league championship winners medal.
Hodgson’s side have lost eight of their 11 games against the clubs above them in the table (won one, drawn two).
What’s next?
Both sides get a rare weekend off amidst the congested end to the season before they’re back in action.
Palace host Burnley next Monday evening (June 29). Liverpool aren’t actually in action for a week when they travel to the team they’re about to wrestle the championship crown from, Manchester City, on July 2.
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