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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\n Mohamed Salah celebrates after equalising for Liverpool at Crystal Palace
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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.<\/p>\n
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<\/em> at 5.30pm. Crystal Palace remain in 14th with 16 points, now losing four of their last five league games.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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check on the pitchside monitor before Madley ruled out the penalty, with Van Dijk’s blushes saved and yellow card rescinded.<\/p>\n Both managers made half-time changes. Mateta replaced Edouard, while Joe Gomez came on for Endo, pushing Trent Alexander-Arnold into midfield.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Crystal Palace: <\/b>Johnstone (6), Ward (7), Guehi (7), Andersen (7), Clyne (7), Richards (7), Lerma (7), Hughes (7), Schlupp (6), Ayew (7), Edouard (6).\n<\/p>\n Subs: <\/b>Mateta (7), Olise (6), Ahamada (6), Matthews (n\/a), Ozoh (n\/a).\n<\/p>\n Liverpool: <\/b>Alisson (7), Alexander-Arnold (6), Quansah (6), Van Dijk (7), Tsimikas (6), Szoboszlai (6), Endo (6), Gravenberch (6), Salah (7), Nunez (5), Diaz (5).\n<\/p>\n Subs: <\/b>Gomez (7), Konate (6), Gakpo (6), Elliott (7), Jones (7).\n<\/p>\n Player of the Match: <\/b>Harvey Elliott.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Crystal Palace<\/strong> visit champions Manchester City<\/strong> in the Premier League on Saturday December 16, kick-off 3pm. Palace then host Brighton <\/strong>on Thursday December 21, live on Sky Sports<\/em>. Kick-off 8pm.<\/p>\n Liverpool <\/strong>travel to Union Saint-Gilloise<\/strong> for their final Group E fixture in the Europa League. The Reds have already secured top spot. Kick-off 5.45pm.<\/p>\n Jurgen Klopp’s side then host Manchester United<\/strong>, live on Sky Sports<\/em>, on Sunday December 17. Kick-off 4.30pm.<\/p>\nHow Liverpool snatched victory<\/h3>\n
![\"Mo](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-premier-league-liverpool_6387477.jpg\")
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\n Salah and his Liverpool team-mates celebrate his equaliser at Selhurst Park
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\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nTeam news headlines<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
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![\"Jean-Philippe](\"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/e0.365dm.com\/23\/12\/768x432\/skysports-premier-league-crystal-palace_6387459.jpg\")
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\n Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates after giving Crystal Palace a second-half lead against Liverpool
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\n <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nPlayer ratings<\/h4>\n<\/p>\n
FPL stats: Crystal Palace vs Liverpool<\/h2>\n
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\n Goals<\/b><\/td>\n Mateta, Salah, Elliott<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Assists<\/b><\/td>\n Salah, Jones<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Bonus points<\/b><\/td>\n Salah (3pts), Mateta, Alexander-Arnold (2pts)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Opta stats – Liverpool win again at Selhurst Park<\/h3>\n
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What’s next?<\/a><\/h3>\n
\n Thursday 21st December 7:30pm
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\n Kick off 8:00pm
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\n Sunday 17th December 4:00pm
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\n Kick off 4:30pm
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