Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Sadio Mane fires Reds to Champions League qualification

Liverpool confirmed their place in the top four and secured Champions League qualification with a routine 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon.

The Reds started nervously and were almost shook to their core when Andros Townsend capitalised on a mistake to race through on goal. Fortunately for Jurgen Klopp, he fired agonisingly wide of the far post.

Liverpool punished Palace for their sloppy finishing on 36 minutes, when Sadio Mane bundled the ball home from close range to send the home fans wild with delight. The Reds continued to have the best of the action, but missed the target with several wonderful opportunities.

Klopp's men controlled the game throughout the second half, even if they struggled to test Vicente Guaita on too many occasions. But Liverpool wrapped up the result in the 74th minute, when Mane drove a deflected strike into the near post, confirming their place in the top four and bringing a tough season to a happy conclusion.

Let's check out the player ratings.

Liverpool

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Alisson Becker (GK) - 8/10 - Called into action a few times early on. Made himself big and did enough to perhaps put off Townsend when through on goal. A standout player all season.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (RB) - 8/10 - Whipped an outrageous free-kick from distance just over the bar. His deliveries from wide were equally as devilish. Defended well and kept Liverpool moving.

Nat Phillips (CB) - 7/10 - Almost sent the hosts into meltdown with an early mistake, misreading the pace of a pass. Luckily, Townsend didn't have his eye in. Took a blow to the face but battled on. An unsung hero in recent weeks.

Rhys Williams (CB) - 7/10 - Blasted a header over the bar when unmarked. No excuses lad, got to be hitting the target from there! Fair play, he made up for it with a flick-on for the opener.

Andy Robertson (LB) - 7/10 - Charged up and down the left flank like a mad man, banging a barrage of crosses into the box. The type of defender you want when going for the win. Whipped in the corner which caused the chaos for the opener.

2. Midfielders

Georginio Wijnaldum (CM) - 7/10 - Captain in what could be his final game for the Reds. Always ready to add an extra body to the mayhem. A clever assist for Mane, but the forward misfired. Linked up brilliantly for the second.

Fabinho (CM) - 7/10 - Strong at the base of the midfield, keeping Palace at arm's length, particularly after a tough start to the match. No nonsense, but efficient as always.

Thiago Alcantara (CM) - 8/10 - Kept Liverpool ticking over, and was mentally miles ahead of this Palace midfield. Composed, authoritative and a proper class act. A different player in the past month or so.

3. Forwards

Mohamed Salah (RW) - 8/10 - Whipped a curler just over the bar from an angle. Then escaped attention to dart in behind, but saw his shot saved well by Guaita. Constantly running the channels and stretching the backline. Great work for the second, holding the ball up and spreading to Mane. Selfless. Misses out on the Golden Boot by one goal.

Roberto Firmino (ST) - 7/10 - Inadvertently got the assist for Mane's opener with a poor touch in the box. These things drop for you, sometimes. Solid enough in attack.

Sadio Mane (LW) - 8/10 - Curled a great chance high and wide from the corner of the box. Made amends by tapping home from close range. Sadio on the spot. Wrapped up the game in the second half with a stroke of luck.

4. Substitutes

James Milner (CM) - 6/10

Diogo Jota (ST) - N/A

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (CM) - N/A

Crystal Palace

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Vicente Guaita (GK) - 6/10 - Stood strong with Salah bearing down on goal, and did enough to parry a shot away from danger. Lucky the Reds didn't manage to get too many efforts on target.

Joel Ward (RB) - 6/10 - Did not have fun against a combination of a fiery Mane and a rampaging Robertson. Outnumbered by the pair and appeared very isolated. Did his best, but was fighting a losing battle.

James Tomkins (CB) - 6/10 - Didn't have too many issues in defending his box, but was often pulled about by Firmino's movement. Looked extremely stressed.

Gary Cahill (CB) - 5/10 - Couldn't live with Salah's movement and pace, as the Egyptian looked to dart in behind and stretch the backline. A bad day to be 35 years old.

Tyrick Mitchell (LB) - 5/10 - Had a tough afternoon against the tricky Salah, and allowed the Egyptian to sneak in behind on a couple of occasions.

6. Midfielders

James McCarthy (CM) - 6/10 - Combative out of possession, trying to win back the ball for his teammates. Kept his side in the game with some fighting spirit.

Jairo Riedewald (CM) - 5/10 - Had to do a lot of chasing, diving into his energy supplies to pressurise the Liverpool midfield. A tough ask against such a determined side.

Cheikhou Kouyate (CM) - 6/10 - Strong and physical display, but no match for the Reds' guile and desire to get this season done and dusted in the right manner.

7. Forwards

Andros Townsend (RW) - 5/10 - Missed a gloorrrrious chance early on, which could have changed the game. Through on goal, but not clinical enough. Costly.

Wilfried Zaha (ST) - 6/10 - Caused a few problems, beating Phillips for pace and putting his trickery to good use. Faded as Liverpool took a grip of the game.

Jordan Ayew (LW) - 5/10 - Not particularly involved after a busy start for Palace, who eventually withdrew back into their shell.

8. Substitutes

Jeffrey Schlupp (CM) - 7/10

Patrick van Aanholt (LB) - N/A

Martin Kelly (CB) - N/A