Alan Pardew urges Crystal Palace to use Liverpool win as springboard after Scott Dann’s late header ends Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield honeymoon
Liverpool 1, Crystal Palace 2
Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew urged his team to draw belief from their latest notable scalp after the Eagles brought an abrupt end to Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool honeymoon.
Defender Scott Dann’s 81st-minute header lifted Palace to seventh in the Premier League, two points off the top four, after Reds midfielder Philippe Coutinho had cancelled out Yannick Bolasie’s opening strike.
Pardew’s men, who also beat champions Chelsea earlier this season and held Manchester United to a draw at Old Trafford last week, are the first to beat Liverpool since Klopp took charge.
“We went toe-to-toe against Manchester United and got a draw,” he said.
“We went toe-toe toe with Liverpool and got the win. Sometimes it is about our own belief. We have been unlucky in the last few games.
“We have started really well this year. We need to make sure we capitalise on that.”
Pardew also heaped praise on centre-back Dann, who he said had been a revelation since taking charge at Selhurst Park.
“I really think he has been underestimated throughout his career and I wouldn’t have said that until I managed him,” he added.
“Now I manage him I realise how good he is. He was superb in everything he did.”
Klopp, who had steered Liverpool to three consecutive wins and three draws since replacing Brendan Rodgers, refused to accept fatigue as an excuse despite his team only returning from Russia at 4am on Friday.
“Between the good game against Rubin Kazan and today there was only one thing to talk about: is it too much playing? I decide if I am tired – nobody else,” he said.
“Big decisions are made in moments when you feel tired. It is always when you are under stress.
“If everyone thinks we gave everything we had then it is wrong. Maybe not more running but to be more awake from the beginning, to be more clear.”
The German also blamed his team for Reds supporters leaving early, insisting it was down to a habit of fading in the last 10 minutes.
“I turned around and I felt pretty alone at this moment but I am not disappointed about this – they have reasons,” he added.
“Between 82 and 94 [minutes] you can make eight goals, but you have to work for it. That is what we have to show and we didn’t. We decide when it is over.”
Winger Bolasie turned and fired Palace’s first – and only his second of the season – on 21 minutes but in-form Coutinho equalised by curling his third in two games just before half-time.
Both teams pressed for a winner and the visitors profited when Liverpool-born Dann nodded in at the second attempt after Simon Mignolet had parried his first header from a corner.