Scott Dann scored a dramatic 82nd minute goal for Crystal Palace as Alan Pardewa s side won at Anfield for a second consecutive season, Sunday’s 2-1 victory inflicting the first defeat of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool reign.
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In May, Palace ruined the Anfield farewell of the legendary Steven Gerrard and the former England international was on hand again, having returned to his hometown after the conclusion of his MLS season in the United States.
But Gerrard witnessed history repeat itself as Dann rose to meet Yohan Cabayea s corner with a strong header which was initially saved by Simon Mignolet only for the Liverpool-born Palace defender to score with his follow-up header.
It was the final significant act of an open and entertaining game which appeared to be going the way of the visitors after Philippe Coutinho had equalised Yannick Bolasiea s opening goal just before the interval.
Liverpool, previously unbeaten in six games — three successive draws followed by three straight wins — under German manager Klopp, started nervously, with Palace dominating possession, and fell behind after 20 minutes to the gamea s first real opening.
It came from Wilfried Zahaa s low right-wing cross, which should have been cleared by Emre Can who, instead, steered the ball straight to Bolasie 12 yards out.
The Palace forward, a boyhood Liverpool fan, turned and made no mistake with a lethal finish into the bottom corner.
Slow Tempo
Falling behind at least breathed life and urgency into the home team and Damien Delaney was soon forced to make a strong block to keep out Jordan Ibea s powerful shot, Martin Skrtela s header was clawed off his line by keeper Wayne Hennessey and Adam Lallana did well to pull the ball back for Christian Benteke who mis-kicked from six yards.
Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho then went off when he twisted his knee badly in an accidental fall and he made way for Dejan Lovren.
The Reds equalised three minutes before the break when Lallana and Ibe linked neatly outside the area to send full-back Nathaniel Clyne towards the by-line.
After Lallana had back-heeled his cross into the path of Coutinho, the Brazilian buried an unstoppable shot past the diving Hennessey.
There was still time for Lovren to steer a header goalwards, not once but twice as, first, Hennessey, then a Palace defender cleared off the line.
Liverpool carried that momentum into the second half with Benteke and Coutinho linking well just outside, and then inside, the Palace area before the former shot over.
Ibe was over-confident with a back-heel inside his own area that forced Lovren into an important block on Zaha, a tackle which sparked a furious chase to the other end of the field, with Coutinho finding Benteke who gave up possession cheaply.
It was turning into an exhilarating encounter with Zaha breaking at full speed and crossing for Bakary Sako to shoot into the side netting and Benteke responding immediately with a header that flew just over from Alberto Morenoa s cross.
But, as had become the pattern of the game, Palace responded in kind when James McArthura s short pass sent Jason Puncheon towards goal and his well-struck 20-yard shot drew a fine, diving stop from the alert Mignolet.
Liverpool substitute Firmino did well to create room for himself in a crowded Palace area after 74 minutes but his shot, from 16 yards, deflected behind harmlessly.
And similarly, after Danna s winning goal, there were chances for the home side but the closest they could come to a second equaliser was a near-post cross-shot from Moreno which Hennessey did well to keep out.
-AFP
