Mohammed Salah scored his 200th Liverpool goal before Harvey Elliott snatched a 2-1 victory at 10-player Crystal Palace, sending the Reds top of the Premier League.
Both sides headed into the game in differing form – Liverpool losing just one of their last 26 Premier League games, while Crystal Palace were booed off by their own fans on Wednesday after a dismal 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth.
But Crystal Palace were the better side for much of the encounter. It took 76 minutes for Liverpool to register a shot on target as Salah’s shot was deflected home, coming less than a minute after Jordan Ayew was sent off for two yellow cards.
The hits kept coming for Crystal Palace too as their No 1 Sam Johnstone was taken off with an injury soon after with Liverpool in the ascendancy. His replacement, Remi Matthews, could do little to stop a fine curling effort from Elliott (90+1) to win the game in added time.
The Eagles had gone ahead through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s 57th-minute penalty, given by VAR around two minutes after he was fouled by 20-year-old defender Jarell Quansah inside the area. He then coolly slotted past Alisson for his first Premier League goal of the season.
But Liverpool showed once again they can win even when they are not at their best, and go top of the Premier League ahead of third versus second – Aston Villa vs Arsenal – live on Sky Sports at 5.30pm. Crystal Palace remain in 14th with 16 points, now losing four of their last five league games.
How Liverpool snatched victory
Salah and his Liverpool team-mates celebrate his equaliser at Selhurst Park
It was a quiet opening 28 minutes – but the game sprang into life with a stunning Alisson save on his return from injury. Ayew whipped a ball into the area, picking out Jefferson Lerma at the back post. But his close-range effort was saved by Alisson, who tipped the ball onto the post before clawing it further off the line.
A minute later, and Crystal Palace were awarded a penalty. Virgil van Dijk clipped Odsonne Edouard from behind as he went to shoot, with referee Andy Madley rightly pointing to the spot.
But VAR intervened to check a Will Hughes foul on Wataru Endo in the build-up. It took a lengthy check on the pitchside monitor before Madley ruled out the penalty, with Van Dijk’s blushes saved and yellow card rescinded.
Both managers made half-time changes. Mateta replaced Edouard, while Joe Gomez came on for Endo, pushing Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield.
Ten minutes after the break and Mateta was key in Crystal Palace taking the lead. He was fouled in the penalty area by Quansah, which was initially waved away.
Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates after giving Crystal Palace a second-half lead against Liverpool
But around two minutes later, play was stopped as Madley went over to the pitchside monitor. He took considerably less time to come to a decision the second time, awarding Crystal Palace the penalty. Mateta lined it up as Liverpool continued their protests before expertly dispatching past Alisson.
Liverpool continued to labour, but in the space of a minute, their fortunes changed. Ayew was sent off for a soft second yellow – given a standing ovation by the home fans as he made his way down the tunnel – before Salah scored the equaliser.
A poor clearance from Michael Olise after Curtis Jones’ initial shot fell kindly to Salah, whose strike deflected off a Palace shirt to wrong-foot Johnstone.
The Crystal Palace No1 was then taken off injured and replaced by Matthews, who could not stop the Liverpool onslaught – especially a fine finish from Elliott. Fed by Salah, the forward then lashed a superb curling effort past the goalkeeper.
Both teams could have scored another in added time. Luis Diaz thought he had, but had a strike ruled out for offside. Alisson then pushed away a threatening header from Joachim Andersen to keep Liverpool’s three points intact.
Opta stats – Liverpool win again at Selhurst Park
- Liverpool have won 67% of their Premier League away games against Crystal Palace (10/15) their highest win percentage among teams they’ve played more than 10 times on the road in the competition.
- Liverpool have already won four matches in the Premier League this season having conceded the first goal, more than any other team in 2023-24 and one more than they managed in the whole of last season (3).
- Crystal Palace have lost four consecutive Premier League home games under one manager for the first time since a run of six-straight defeats under Alan Pardew in March 2016.
- Jordan Ayew’s red card was his first for Crystal Palace in the Premier League – all three of his red cards in the competition have come while playing for different sides (also one with Swansea and one with Aston Villa).
What’s next?
Thursday 21st December 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Crystal Palace visit champions Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday December 16, kick-off 3pm. Palace then host Brighton on Thursday December 21, live on Sky Sports. Kick-off 8pm.
Liverpool travel to Union Saint-Gilloise for their final Group E fixture in the Europa League. The Reds have already secured top spot. Kick-off 5.45pm.
Jurgen Klopp’s side then host Manchester United, live on Sky Sports, on Sunday December 17. Kick-off 4.30pm.
Sunday 17th December 4:00pm
Kick off 4:30pm