Mohamed Salah netted his 29th Premier League goal as Liverpool came from behind to defeat Crystal Palace on Saturday afternoon, writes MARSHALL GOUTS.
The visitors dominated possession stakes in the opening exchanges, with the pace of Sadio Mane proving particularly threatening.
Palace, however, came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock in the 10th minute when Yohan Cabaye’s well-weighted pass over the top was met by Wilfred Zaha, but Lorius Karius produced a sublime effort to keep the scoreline level.
The home side were not to be denied two minutes later when Karius was adjudged to have bundled Zaha in the area, with the resultant penalty converted by Luka Milivojevic.
Egyptian superstar Salah came close to levelling matters in the 28th minute after finding some space behind the Palace defence, but the former Chelsea winger’s effort proved tame.
Liverpool thought they had pulled one back in the 30th minute but Mane’s header was adjudged to have been offside.
Salah came close to equalising matters for Liverpool minutes before the half-time break, but his trademark cut-in and shoot move was blocked by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
Hennessey was at it again a few seconds later as he kept out Mane’s goalbound header to ensure that his side go into the half-time break with the lead.
Liverpool were level in the 49th minute when a swift attacking move saw Roberto Firmino set up James Milner who, in turn, set up Mane who made no mistake from eight yards out.
Salah almost produced a world-class individual effort in the 51st minute when he took down a difficult ball on the chest before sizzling a left-foot effort just wide of the far post.
The visitors were in complete control of the game; however, former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke proved wasteful with two golden opportunities in the space of a minute as Jurgen Klopp’s side were left off the hook.
Liverpool should’ve been down to ten men when Mane, who was already on a yellow card, picked up the ball in the area, thinking the whistle had gone.
The visitors were dealt a blow when substitute Adam Lallana was forced off with injury, minutes after coming on.
Salah continued his red-hot form as he took advantage of Andrew Robertson’s cutback to net his 29th Premier League goal to hand Liverpool maximum points at Selhurst Park.
Photo: Premier League website