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Writer's pictureBobby Vincent

Liverpool 4-3 Crystal Palace

Mohamed Salah inspired Liverpool to move seven points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table, with the Reds somehow surviving the most almighty of scares against Crystal Palace.

Andros Townsend gave Palace the lead in the first-half to stun Anfield after some good work from Wilfried Zaha.

Salah equalised after Virgil van Dijk's deflected shot fell to him and Roberto Firmino put Liverpool in the lead not long after.

However, James Tomkins equalised for the Eagles - before Salah got very fortunate after a nightmare from Julian Speroni.

Sadio Mane made it 4-2 to the Reds in stoppage-time, but Palace weren't done and Max Meyer squeezed the ball past Alisson to set up a nervous finish on Merseyside.

James Milner was sent off for the hosts with little time remaining after picking up two yellow cards.

The Reds started the game on the front-foot and looked to catch Palace out with a fast-tempo at Anfield.

However, it was the Eagles who stunned Anfield when they took the lead. Some good work from Zaha on the left-hand side, who pulled it back to the penalty spot and Townsend finished excellently.

Liverpool struggled to get going again in the first-half, and it seemed as if the only way they'd find a way back into the game would be through a stern Jurgen Klopp team-talk at half-time.

That seemed to work. Immediately after the restart, van Dijk's long-range strike was deflected and the ball fell in the path of Salah, who scored his 15th Premier League goal of the season. It was some finish.

Image via Liverpool FC

Naby Keita, who was making a rare start for the Reds, found Firmino from the edge of the box, and the Brazil striker made some space before scuffing his low shot into the bottom right corner. A rapid turnaround from the leaders.

It looked like it was business as usual for the Reds - who hadn't lost at Anfield since Palace beat them back in 2017 (in the league).

But Palace refused to lay down and Tomkins headed in from a Townsend corner at the far-post and it was level again.

Liverpool brought on Xherdan Shaqiri for Keita with the score level.

Milner, who was playing right-back, found himself in a good position to cross, and cross he did, only for Speroni to palm the ball back towards his goal and Salah was alert and stabbed the ball in the net.

It looked as if it was a Speroni own-goal but after the replays were shown, the Egypt striker got to the ball before it crossed the line. 16th goal of the season.

Anfield was buzzing. The game was bonkers. The crowd were trying to push Liverpool across the line and it was so nearly 4-2.

Mane found himself with acres of space, but could only drag wide of Speroni's post with his weaker foot.

But Mane redeemed himself after some extreme determination from Andy Robertson, with the Senegal winger calmly finessing the ball into the corner - for Liverpool to have a two-goal cushion for the first time in the match.

That was it. Surely? No? Okay. Meyer managed to pull a goal back for the Eagles after great work from substitute Connor Wickham. Alisson should have done better.

When Patrick van Aanholt found space for a shot at the end; there was a collective inhale around all 54,074 seats at Anfield. It was miles over, though.

Huge win for the Reds - but a real problem at right-back. Trent Alexander-Arnold was out injured for the game. Joe Gomez isn't back just yet. Milner is now suspended. Fabinho limped off at the end.

 

The Managers

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