Adam Wharton was speaking following Crystal Palace's 3-1 Premier League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday afternoon
Adam Wharton before Crystal Palace's Premier League game against Liverpool
Adam Wharton before Crystal Palace's Premier League game against Liverpool(Image: (Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images) )
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Adam Wharton believes his Crystal Palace side paid the price for not being ruthless enough in front of goal against Liverpool. Oliver Glasner’s side fell to a 3-1 defeat at Anfield that prevented them from becoming the first ever team to beat the Reds four times in a season.
A quick-fire double from Alexander Isak and Andy Robertson put Arne Slot’s side in total control in the first-half before Florian Wirtz added a third in stoppage time after Daniel Munoz controversially reduced the arrears. But the Eagles created plenty of chances against the Premier League holders; Freddie Woodman made a couple of good saves, and Strand Larsen hit the inside of the post when the score was 2-1.
And England international Wharton believes the difference between the two sides was some clinical finishing from the Reds.
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“Obviously we were disappointed with the result,” the midfielder said. “We were coming here to get the win. I felt the performance was good, though.
“We can look at it and take the positives. We created some good chances, and on another day we score a few more goals.
“They were clinical and effective with the chances they got. We can look back on the positives, but ultimately we’re disappointed with the result.
"I think in the first-half we had a couple of good chances. We controlled them pretty well. But they had two breakaways and obviously they’re a top team on the break. They had two half-chances and took them.”
Agreeing with Wharton, Palace boss Glasner said: "The difference was the efficiency. Liverpool were clinical, and we were not.
Adam Wharton is helped up by Curtis Jones during Crystal Palace's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield
Adam Wharton is helped up by Curtis Jones during Crystal Palace's 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield(Image: (Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images))
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“The goalkeeper had the day of his life, so congrats to him. We kept believing until the end. It was really positive, and this is what we take into the final weeks."
On Munoz's goal, Glasner said: "It was a difficult situation because he made a big save but the ball goes to Munoz. Everything goes so quickly. He could continue the game until the end and that's why we think it was the right decision. I think that is was OK.
"When you watch it on TV. It's on the edge, to be honest. He makes the save, then tries to get up then he raises his arm but Munoz is already taking the finish. If he hits his head then the game has to be stopped. It was the right decision I think.
"I told them that I think it was our best performance here against Liverpool. We were very competitive here today. I showed them the stats. 2-0 down at half-time, you could say we rest our power for the Conference League semi-final and maybe lose 4-0 or something. This performance will give us a lot of confidence for the rest of the season."