Liverpool vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Reds suffer shock defeat
Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace: Eberechi Eze’s early goal was enough as the Eagles claimed a rare Premier League away win at Anfield and Jurgen Klopp’s side surrendered the chance to return to the top of the table
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Liverpool blew the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as Jurgen Klopp’s hopes of winning the title were hit by a shock defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Just days after Klopp promised a response following Liverpool’s 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the Europa League, the Reds found themselves behind again as Eberehi Eze fired the Eagles into the lead in front of a stunned Kop.
Liverpool missed several chances before half time, with Wataru Endo clipping the bar, but the visitors were dangerous themselves and were inches away from doubling their lead as Andy Robertson cleared off the line.
The returning Alisson kept Liverpool alive in the second half, as Darwin Nunez missed a golden chance from point-blank range, Curtis Jones skewed wide when through on goal and Mohamed Salah’s shot was blocked by Tyrick Mitchell.
Crystal Palace held on to claim a rare Premier League away win at Anfield, but a second home defeat in four days leaves Liverpool now third in the title race behind Manchester City and Arsenal after blowing their advantage.
28’ - Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
Liverpool almost force an equaliser! A scramble off a corner sees Van Dijk and Salah both trying to toepoke in and eventually there’s both a shot and a ricochet which bounces up and off the crossbar - somehow it stays out and Palace clear.
26’ - Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
Jurgen Klopp has been a picture of frustration for most of this first half. A bit better from the Reds now as Salah frees Nunez into the box and Jones eventually wins a corner - good defending from Munoz twice there.
Diaz then bursts between both Munoz and Andersen but the former just about does enough to lean into the winger and allow Henderson to collect.
22’ - Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
A quarter of the game gone and just the one shot from Liverpool so far. Palace well on top in terms of what they are doing with the ball and creating far more openings with their movement and speed of play.
Lerma is down for Palace now and needing a bit of attention.
18’ - Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
Very, very, very nearly 2-0. Virgil van Dijk slips over as he looks to clear a simple ball and Mateta races through on goal. He clips his shot over Alisson Becker and it’s bouncing in - until Andy Robertson sprints back and just, just manages to clear the ball off the line.
Must have been centimetres in it.
GOAL! 14’ - Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace
Eze has Palace ahead and it’s such a soft goal to concede - really well worked from the visitors!
Palace’s back three is super tight and narrow, making it tough for Liverpool to get passes into feet in the final third. Another attempt is cut out and Palace break down the left, Mitchell’s cut-back eventually arriving at a totally unmarked Ebe Eze who sidefoots home past Alisson!
10’ - Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
Robertson and Diaz break at pace down the left and some one-touch passing feeds Darwin Nunez. He opens his body for a first-time shot, but he’s slightly too far out to really trouble Henderson and it’s comfortably saved.
Jugen Klopp has 13 wins against Palace, meanwhile - more than against any other opponent.
6’ - Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
Salah tries to link with Mac Allister and get forward for the first time but Lerma, left of a back three these days with Palace’s injuries, comes across and slides into a good challenge.
Early possession for the hosts but Palace in a very fixed shape, 5-4-1 out of possession and then quick to push on Olise, Eze and the wingbacks when the counter.
2’ - Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
No margin for error for Liverpool, then. Eze and Olise back in tandem will be a real poser for them though - and Alisson is immediately called into action to clear a cross from the left. Eze then rolls infield and strikes on target, but it’s soft and saved.
1’ - Liverpool 0-0 Crystal Palace
Anfield observes an impeccable minute’s silence for the 35th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
After the referee’s whistle, we’re underway.
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace - LIVE
The visitors are currently on a run of one win in nine games, which isn’t ideal. Away from home it’s precisely zero victories since 4 November - with the vast bulk of that of course coming under Roy Hodgson rather than Oliver Glasner.
Still, it gives the new boss and idea of what he’s up against today and where he needs to make huge improvements for next term.
Liverpool were unbeaten at Anfield in all competitions until Thursday, when Atalanta shocked them 3-0.
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