Liverpool 1, Crystal Palace 2: First Thoughts

Liverpool 1 Coutinho 42'
Crystal Palace 2 Bolasie 21', Dann 82'

• Pre-match thoughts: Captain Lucas!  Team TLO at Anfield! James Milner out with Jordon Ibe replacing him in the lineup. It will be interesting to note whether that shifts Liverpool into more of a 4-2-3-1, which is Jürgen Klopp's preferred formation. For Crystal Palace, injuries and a lack of willingness to test out highly rated Chelsea loanee Patrick Bamford may mean a start for Yannick Bolasie at striker.
• Bolasie wastes no time in setting Liverpudlian derrieres to clenching as his pressing on Mignolet's possession is basically the exact nightmare scenario to start this match.
• Palace's defensive shape in the early exchanges falls back to a 4-4-2, but the athletes they have out wide and up top allow them to break out of it in a very attacking look.
• Nathaniel Clyne is a cyborg as he tracks an early break to a LB position to cover for Sakho and Moreno, then wins the sliding tackle.
• Pretty naughty stuff from Emre Can as he takes Zaha out of the air.
• Commentator just said Klopp and Rodgers should have done everything to keep Steven Gerrard at the club. Not even mad, just impressed at the level of imagination it takes to come up with that perception of reality.
• ***GOAL*** 21' Yannick Bolasie. Can provided a wonderful little touch in the box to lay it off for the effervescent Bolasie, who makes us feel sorry for the ball with that shot power.
• First third of the match gone, and Liverpool look pretty calm after going a goal down. Lallana and Coutinho are trying to find their feet as foils for the directness of Ibe and Benteke. Only problem is Palace appear equally calm in soaking this stuff up and taking their chances on the break.
• We cannot wait for Bolasie to get transferred to Spurs so he can stop being the bane of Liverpudlian existence.
• Better job by the good guys at using possession to paint the box Red before playing that final combination for goal. Of course, with Coutinho literally taking the ball off Ibe's feet, and Can continuing his extended audition for Swan Lake, that final combination bit remains a bit of tricky nut to crack.
• Everything reassuringly returns to being the worst as Sakho lands awkwardly and Lovren warms up to replace- WHATS THAT? MAMA'S FINE? ROPE-A-DOPE!! ROPE-A-DOPE!!
• Or not. Bad eggs, folks. Really, really bad eggs.
• ***GOAL*** 42' Coutinho. Ibe to Clyne to Hawt Sex to PUG LIFE. Quit hitting yourself, Palace.
• The Lovren-Moreno left side terrifies us more than that time we watched Paranormal Activity alone with all the lights off, while dogsitting for a friend who lived across the street from a cemetery. OH LIKE YOU DIDN'T JUMP IN THAT LAST SEQUENCE, WHATEVER YOU GUYS SUCK.
• Halftime 1-1 Pretty exciting game, this. Two teams that know each other well engaged in a game of chicken with both sides capable of blinking first. Not sure what sort of voodoo Klopp has up his sleeve to figure out that Lovren-Moreno flank, but our halftime team talk involves some cilantro hummus on triscuits with fresh plum tomato slices on top. Humble fare, but the tomatoes are nice an peppy and we love that.
• Klopp starts the second half yelling in a way that makes us think his instructions aren't being carried out quite as precisely as he would like. Either that or he's like, "Emre! Emre!! EMRE!!! Looking good, dollface. Looking damn good. You too, Adam, come get some sugar." You decide which reality you want to live in.
• Everytime the commentators say Souare our heart does a mini-flip, and then we realize Barcelona hasn't actually loaned Bitey McNibblestein back to us for this fixture, and so then a little part of us dies inside.
• Hennessey trolling Waffles with that goal kick from the corner flag. Jerk.
• Skrtel digs that one out and Lovren thumps it clear--THAT'S how you clear danger, Emre! Sorry for yelling, but the fact Dejan's the one showing you how it's done just really stings.
• Two thirds of the game gone and Crystal Palace are still totally dangerous on the break. Probably more deserving of a go ahead goal at this point, but Liverpool aren't without their qualities right now.
• We kind of like Alan Pardew. /ducks.
• Roberto Firmino's introduction ends Emre Can's poor day at the office.
• We like Benteke and Lallana combining for a headed chance, we just don't like that it was Benteke passing and Lallana leaping for it.
• We were not aware that DJ Danger Mouse was moonlighting as a part of Palace's training staff. Respect.
• JUMP, ADAM, ERMERGARD!!!!
• ***GOAL*** 82' Scott Dann. Scott Dann, Liverpool? Really? We no longer kind of like Alan Pardew. We totes dislike Alan Pardew.
• Mutch and Origi on for Cabaye and Ibe, respectively. Liverpool look up for the equalizer, but will they stitch it together with four minutes of stoppage time?
• Nope. /sigh.

We'll be back shortly to take an in-depth look at everything that happened in today's game with the full recap. Until then, let us know your take on the ups and downs of the match in the comments, and if you haven't already, join the community on the Liverpool Offside, where we'll have full coverage and lively in-game discussion for every match this season.