My first RAAAAAAATINGS! of the season! How exciting!
Cliche time: the three points is all that counts, winning ugly, game that title contenders have to win, grinding out results, tough place to come to, blah fucking blah.
Palace were decent, even though Benteke doesn't look like he will ever score again. They have some very good players, and plenty of speed, discipline and skill in the team. But we still dominated possession, and we still deserved to win. Fine, it wasn't that pretty, or hugely convincing, and we had a few players slightly off-colour, but I refer you to the list of cliches above.
Alisson (8). Made a couple of decent saves, and one weak punch aside, looked cool as a cucumber. Some great distribution too, and he is a very obvious upgrade on anything we've had in goal for a decade. Lovely big beardy Grock.
Robbo (7) Perpetual Scottish motion, he simply never stopped running and was always looking to support Mane in attack. Solid for the most part defensively too, and his aggression meant that Palace's own flying fullbacks couldn't attack at will.
Virgil (9) A collossus. He cajoled, shouted, and directed the defence, and took total control. Lost nothing in the air and used the ball unfussily and intelligently. What a player.
Gomez (8) He looked the part last night, and showed some blistering pace when dealing with one dangerous attack, which he snuffed out with a tackle.
TAA (6) Wobbly first half, and his passing and crossing was a bit skew-whiff, although he still created chances and he never once hid, in fact he was the most involved of any player, even if he was not at his best. Had lots to do defensively too, with two rapid wide players to deal with, and there were times he needed more help than he was given.
Wijnaldum (7) I was bit torn on this rating, as he was invisible at times in the second half, after an impressive and calm start to the game. He is still too tentative with his passing at times, and he looks like a cat on a hot tin roof whenever he sees the goal, but he dealt well with the impressive Milojojolelivicic, who is a quality player and doesn't lose possession often.
Milner (7) Not quite as awesome as the West Ham game, although the energy and commitment were obviously still there, before he flagged a bit. Typically nerveless penalty too, but I bet he doesn't start the next game.
Keita (7) Another rating I was umming and ahhing over. At times he looked simply sensational, and that drag-back and pass was of the very highest quality. His movement and skills are also on another level, as he carries the ball so quickly up the pitch, taking players out of the game. But there seems so much more to come, especially with his final pass or indeed shooting.
Salah (7) Not at his very best, and squandered several chances that you would usually expect him to finish (well, based on last season's incredible heroics anyway). Still he won the penalty, got a player sent off and also assisted for the second with a beautiful pass, so not a bad evening's work really, even when that infamous touch is missing.
Mane (8) Top quality and the pick of our forwards, he showed searing pace and was always looking to hurt Palace with clever runs and some lovely passing. Deserved his goal and has started the season like the proverbial train.
Firmino (6) Made some useful contributions and worked hard, but was often so deep that he was left too far from goal when we attacked, and hasn't the pace to catch up and actually threaten the goal. Never looked like scoring.
