Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni's error ensured Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 4-3 to move seven points clear of Manchester City in the title race.
2018/2019 Premier League
4-3
Match Report
Mohamed Salah's brace moved Liverpool seven points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League title race as Julian Speroni's error saw Crystal Palace go down 4-3 at Anfield.
Palace led thanks to Andros Townsend's first-half goal, but quickfire strikes from Salah and Roberto Firmino turned the game around eight minutes into the second half.
James Tomkins headed Palace level but an awful error by veteran goalkeeper Speroni, tipping James Milner's cross towards his own goal for Salah to score his 50th goal in the Premier League, gave Liverpool a lead that was later added to by Sadio Mane.
Palace netted a stoppage-time consolation through Max Meyer but Liverpool - who had Milner sent off for a second bookable offence late in the second half - held on to stretch their cushion at the top, with Manchester City away to managerless Huddersfield Town on Sunday.
Player Ratings
Match Events
34'GOAL! Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace (Townsend)
GOOOAAALLL! Palace lead 1-0! The goal comes against the run of play, with the visitors breaking forward on the counter-attack and they have the lead at Anfield. Zaha bursts past Milner down the right wing, gets into the box and pulls the ball back to Townsend who was sprinting into the area and he slides the ball under Alisson and into the back of the net.
46'GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace (Salah)
GOOOAAALLL! Liverpool are back in the game just seconds after the restart, it's 1-1! Salah with the equalising goal, a real poachers goal after a long range deflected shot by Van Dijk loops up in the box and Speroni gets caught in two minds, whether to come and collect or stay on his line. In the end he gets caught in no man's land and Salah sneaks in to flick the ball past the Palace keeper, with no defenders anywhere near him.
53'GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace (Firmino)
GOOOAAALLL! Liverpool take the lead, it's 2-1! Firmino is given far too much time and space in the box as he is fed the ball by Keita, he has time to control the ball and then pick his spot, placing the ball in the bottom corner, with a slight deflection taking it out of the reach of Speroni.
65'GOAL! Liverpool 2-2 Crystal Palace (Tomkins)
GOOOAAALLL! Palace equaliser, it's 2-2! The visitors have their first corner of the game after Ayew's shot is blocked. Tomkins is unmarked at the far post, he powers his header low and into the bottom corner. He made it look easy, but poor defending by Liverpool to allow Palace back into this game..
75'GOAL! Liverpool 3-2 Crystal Palace (Salah)
GOOOAAALLL! Liverpool take the lead once again, it's now 3-2! Huge mistake by Speroni and it hands Salah one of the easiest goals he will ever score in a Liverpool shirt. Milner was played in-behind and he just manages to keep the ball in, chipping the ball into the air and Speroni fails to deal with the ball, tipping it behind him and Salah races in to smash the ball into the net on the goal line. It looks like the Palace keeper tried to tip the ball over the crossbar but he got it all wrong.
88' RED CARD! (Milner)
HE'S OFF! Milner is shown a second yellow card and then receives his marching orders after his late challenge on Zaha. The winger just gets to the ball before Milner and the right-back was already committed to the challenge, a clear foul and booking.
93'GOAL! Liverpool 4-2 Crystal Palace (Mane)
GOOOAAALLL! Liverpool have their fourth goal! The hosts should now have the game wrapped up, it's 4-2 with just a couple minutes of added time remaining. The Reds broke forward on the counter, with Robertson feeding the striker and he then slides the ball underneath Speroni from a tight angle.
95'GOAL! Liverpool 4-3 Crystal Palace (Meyer)
GOOOAAALLL! Palace have another goal! It's 4-3, what a game! The visitors haven't given up just yet. Wickham cushions the ball down for Meyer who smashes the ball past Alisson, to make it a very interesting finale.
Line-ups
Liverpool XI: Milner, J. Henderson, Matip, Alisson, Roberto Firmino, Salah, Van Dijk, S. Mané, Fabinho, A.Robertson, N.Keita
Subs: Sturridge, S. Mignolet, Lallana, X. Shaqiri, Moreno, Origi, Rafael Camacho
Crystal Palace XI: Sakho, J. Speroni, Tomkins, McArthur, C. Kouyaté, Townsend, Van Aanholt, L. Milivojević, Ayew, W.Zaha, Aaron Wan-Bissaka
Subs: Dann, Benteke, M.Kelly, Wickham, Schlupp, Meyer, J. Tupper