Crystal Palace v Liverpool: Matchday blog
An impressive second-half comeback earned Liverpool a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Luka Milivojevic's 13th-minute penalty gave the hosts a lead to defend, but the Reds responded strongly and their patience was rewarded early in the second half when Sadio Mane converted James Milner's cross.
And then, with just six minutes remaining, Mo Salah displayed his customary coolness in front of goal to fire home and claim a huge three points for the Reds.
Peruse the Opta data from that thrilling win, and how the top end of the table looks, below...
Full Time
Yes!!!
Liverpool trailed at half-time due to Luka Milivojevic’s early penalty but, undeterred, fought back brilliantly to claim a win that lifts them up to second in the Premier League – temporarily, at least.
Sadio Mane, who had a goal disallowed before the break, equalised just four minutes into the second half and Salah – who else?! – conjured up a late winner with his 29th top-flight goal of a quite incredible season.
We're into four minutes added time...
Get in, Mo!!
Robertson angles a delightful first-time cross to Salah who, cool as you like, takes a touch before burying a right-footed finish past Hennessey.
Just the 37 goals this season for the Egyptian king now...
Goal
SALAH!!!!
A flowing move from Liverpool ends with Salah just, and only just, failing to make contact with Milner's cushioned, volleyed cross.
Close.
Substitution
Lallana's afternoon is over prematurely, as he goes down following a tackle and has to be replaced. The No.20 appeared to be feeling discomfort in his hamstring as he hobbled off.
Lovren is on as Liverpool's third and final sub, with Klopp changing the Reds' formation to three at the back.
Substitution
A double change for Liverpool, as Mane and Wijnaldum make way for Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lallana.
Good save, Loris!
The Reds' No.1 punches Van Aanholt's curling free-kick away.
Benteke has missed two glorious chances to restore Palace's lead in quick succession, blazing both off target after some sloppiness in possession from Liverpool.
A warning for the Reds.
The Reds have started this half on the front foot - and they've got the goal they deserve through Mane.
Milner drills in a low cross from the left and Sadio is on hand to convert from close range.
Game on!
Goal
MANE EQUALISES!
Kick-Off
We're back under way.
Take a look at the stats from the first half below..
Half Time
And there goes the whistle to end the half.
Liverpool were in charge for the vast majority of that first period, with Mane heavily involved. The Reds forward had a goal disallowed, saw strong appeals for a penalty waved away and was denied by an excellent reflex save from Hennessey just before the break.
Palace lead, though, thanks to Milivojevic's 13th-minute spot-kick.
So nearly a leveller before half-time - Mane directs Salah's corner goalwards with his head, but Hennessey gets down well to palm it away.
Two minutes have been added on here.
Salah wriggles away from his marker to make half a yard and then curls an effort towards the far top corner, but Hennessey gathers.
This has been a good spell of concerted pressure from Liverpool, but Palace's deep-lying defence are making it tough to get a clear sight of Hennessey's goal.
Firmino heads Milner's cross well off target from an acute angle and there's about 10 minutes to go until half-time.
Now Mane has the ball in the net - but it's ruled out for offside.
The forward glances Firmino's header from a corner beyond Hennessey, but the assistant's flag denies the Reds an equaliser.
Yellow Card
Mane goes down after apparently being caught in the box by a mistimed sliding challenge from McArthur, but the referee books the Liverpool man for simulation.
Liverpool have responded well to that early setback.
An incisive vertical pass from Matip is turned around the corner neatly by Milner, but Salah is crowded out as he attempts to burst into the area.
Goal
Milivojevic scores.
The spot-kick was given after Karius was adjudged to have fouled Zaha, and came just a minute after Mane had flicked a header wide from close range at the other end.
Penalty
Penalty to Palace.
Great save, Loris!
Zaha breaks onto a long pass and shoots from close range, but Karius is out quickly to tip his effort wide.
The Reds have dominated possession in the early stages, but the first attempt on goal is from the home side.
Great save, Loris!
Zaha breaks onto a long pass and shoots from close range, but Karius is out quickly to tip his effort wide.
The Reds have dominated possession in the early stages, but the first attempt on goal is from the home side.
Kick-Off
Palace get us under way.
Come on, Liverpool!
The players have emerged from the tunnel and onto the pitch.
Not long to go, now...
The Reds are here...
Liverpool's line-up explained
The boss has given his reasons for choosing today's starting XI...
"We could have made another line-up, but we only made a line-up for the game. We have four days until the next game so there's no reason to rest anybody after the two-week international break. [Then] we play Everton, then we play City again.
"For the start it was an easy decision to make – as strong as possible and still strong players on the bench. That's how it should be."
Inside the dressing room...
Take a quick peek before the lads arrive.
Today's squads...
TEAM NEWS
In: Trent Alexander-Arnold and James Milner
Out: Joe Gomez and Emre Can
Jürgen Klopp has made two changes to his starting line-up from the 5-0 win over Watford a fortnight ago, with Alexander-Arnold and Milner coming in for Gomez and Can, both of whom are missing due to injury.
Nathaniel Clyne returns to the Reds’ matchday squad for the first time this season following a long-term back injury, with the full-back named among the subs.
Team in full: Karius, Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson, Wijnaldum, Milner, Salah, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Mignolet, Lovren, Clyne, Moreno, Lallana, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ings.
Today's setting...
The odds are in...
Here are the match prices offered by BetVictor today...
Crystal Palace - 6/1
Draw - 18/5
Liverpool - 1/2
Click here for more details.
We'll have the confirmed Liverpool starting XI, directly from here, at 11.30am BST...
Stat attack
Impress your mates with these factoids before kick-off...
- In the 17 PL meetings between these clubs, there have been 60 goals
- This is Klopp's 100th league match as LFC manager; he has won 53 so far
- Salah has scored 10 goals in his last seven Premier League games
Andy's assessment
We caught up with Andy Robertson ahead of the game and the left-back explained why Liverpool cannot afford to be at anything other than their best against the Eagles...
"If we can get our three points early doors on Saturday then it makes the rest of Saturday and Sunday a lot nicer and a lot easier, because you know you've put in a good performance and you've got the points in the bag," he said.
"But we know how hard Crystal Palace are, especially on their home turf with their fans - it's quite a hostile atmosphere and they'll make it as hard as they can.
"They're fighting for their lives down at the bottom and three points down there is so crucial to them. We need to make sure we're at our best and hopefully take our chances like we have been doing."
It was a tight affair when these sides met earlier in the season at Anfield.
Palace kept Liverpool at bay for 73 minutes but, eventually, Sadio Mane pounced to prod a finish past Wayne Hennessey at the Kop end and take all three points.
Refresh your memory of that win on LFCTV GO below...
Familiar faces...
... and plenty of them!
Former Reds boss Roy Hodgson is in the Palace dugout of course, having taken the reins in September.
There are four former Liverpool players in the Eagles squad, too: Christian Benteke, Diego Cavalieri, Martin Kelly and Mamadou Sakho.
Weather
Ding, ding!
Early kick-off, early weather update.
Our experts have been in touch to tell us temperatures are around four degrees locally, with light rain expected in the area as the day progresses. Official advice is therefore to wrap up appropriately if you're heading to Selhurst Park.
The gaffer's view
Klopp was in typically good form at his pre-match press conference on Friday - and you can see everything he had to say about today's fixture in the free video from Melwood below...
A win over Palace would lift the Reds up to second in the Premier League, temporarily at least ahead of Manchester United's meeting with Swansea City later in the day.
Perhaps more telling is the potential 10-point cushion they could create over fifth-placed Chelsea, who face Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
Team news
Liverpool will be without Emre Can (back) and Joe Gomez (ankle) due to injury today.
Nathaniel Clyne is in contention for the squad, however, as he awaits a first appearance of the season.
Palace have several fitness doubts, and Connor Wickham is out, but Wilfried Zaha could be involved.
Last time out
It was a fortnight ago that the Reds last took to the turf - in a match dominated by Mohamed Salah.
The Premier League top scorer bagged four goals to help Jürgen Klopp's men to a 5-0 rout of Watford at Anfield.
Enjoy the best of that game again...
Tale of the tape
The Eagles are battling for Premier League survival, while Liverpool are aiming to secure a second successive top-four finish. Pore over the numbers behind their seasons so far below...
2017-18 2017-18
Welcome back
Hello and welcome to our live matchday blog. Have you missed us?
The wait for more Liverpool action is over - the Reds take on Crystal Palace this afternoon and we'll keep you updated every step of the way with our updates from Selhurst Park.
Settle in and enjoy it.