Crystal Palace welcomed Liverpool to Selhurst Park on Saturday in a bizarre encounter that eventually went the way of Liverpool 4-2.
The match got off to a cagey start as Liverpool looked to make inroads into the Palace half, while the home side opted to sit deep and maintain their defensive shape.
Liverpool steadily built pressure as the game wore on without creating any clear-cut opportunities, but then broke the deadlock with their first attempt. The goal came on the quarter-hour mark, with Emre Can’s shot finding the net.
Barley three minutes later James McArthur headed Palace level. The goal came in bizarre circumstances as Dejan Lovren gifted the goal following a poor aerial back pass.
Lovren didn’t take long to make amends, however, as he nodded home a corner after 21 minutes to put the Reds back in front.
Liverpool continued to press the attack as Alberto Moreno, in particular, caused problems down the left flank, his pace and willingness to make overlapping runs proving difficult to contain.
The Spaniard came within inches of extending the Reds’ lead on the half-hour mark, but his effort from a tight angle smashed against the post.
Palace somehow clawed their way back into the game for a second time just a few minutes later as McArthur again headed his side level, this time from a cross.
Phillipe Coutinho was superbly denied as his header was pushed onto the post before Sadio Mane skied a great opening after 37 minutes.
Liverpool regained the lead for a third time on the stroke of half-time as Joel Matip powered home a header following a corner. The score remained 3-2 to Liverpool at the interval.
The second half got off to a dramatic start as Mane was played in brilliantly by Coutinho, only to be denied by Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.
With Palace playing on the front foot for the first time, Alan Pardew’s side was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty as what appeared to be a quick succession of fouls, all within the Reds box, went unpunished.
Christian Benteke then missed a great chance to score against his former club when he hit his effort at a comfortable height for the goalkeeper, before Palace were denied a penalty yet again following an apparent foul on Wilfried Zaha in the 70th minute.
Barely a minute later, Roberto Firmino put Liverpool 4-2 up as he dedicatedly chipped Mandanda following a great ball from deep.
It proved the last chance of significance as Liverpool held on to claim all three points.
Photo: Premier League Website
