Crystal Palace vs Liverpool match report: Defence goes out the window as Reds seal entertaining victory

Crystal Palace 2 Liverpool 4: A thrilling first 45 minutes produced five goals but neither manager will be pleased with what they saw in defence

Roberto Firmino celebrates after chipping the ball over Crystal Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda to score the fourth goal (Getty)

One of the most eventful Premier League fixtures of the season continued the odd sequence in which meetings between this pair go the way of the away team. It was the fifth such occasion in succession and there was no doubting the justice of it as Liverpool rejoined Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table, having lost only one game out of 13 in all competitions this season.

There were five goals by half-time, as the visitors went ahead three times, from Emre Can, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip – the latter pair of defenders heading in corners – before James McArthur twice equalised. It was a 45-minute feast of attacking in which players like McArthur, Lovren and Alberto Moreno proved better going forward than defending.

Palace kept going admirably thereafter, but in contrast to the earlier period they were the team that became victims of counter-attacking as Roberto Firmino clipped in the fourth goal. They were left to rue some loose defensive work that only illustrated why it has been so long – 15 league games – since a clean sheet.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates Liverpool's 4-2 victory over Crystal Palace (Getty)

In March when Liverpool won 2-1 here, Christian Benteke was not only on the other side but was accused by manager Alan Pardew of diving to win the decisive late penalty which he then stood up to score. It completed a recovery from being 1-0 down and playing with ten men after James Milner was sent off. There could be no such excuses this time.

Palace's tactics were clear and they took only two minutes to send in the first long cross to Benteke, from Wilfred Zaha, but from then until half-time they were more or less counter-attacking, so effectively were they pushed back.

They fell behind in the 16th minute when Alberto Moreno provided the width for Coutinho's pass and Can finished smartly, albeit with the help of a slight deflection off Scott Dann, the Scouse captain restored to the side after injury, who scored the winning goal at Anfield last season.

James McArthur heads in Crystal Palace's second goal (Getty)

Two minutes more and an equaliser: Benteke, subdued until then, managed an important touch to goalkeeper Steve Mandanda's long ball downfield and Lovren, receiving a square pass from Matip, miscued a backpass horribly, allowing McArthur to head in. The goal came just before the minute's applause due for young Palace supporter Harry Davies, who was killed last week.

Lovren immediately made amends for his error when he got on the end of Coutinho's corner to score, but he was beaten in the air ten minutes later when Zaha's cross was headed in by McArthur for the Scottish international's fourth goal in six matches.

There was much more to come, even in the dozen minutes before the interval. Firmino crossed for Coutinho to head against a post, Mandanda getting a crucial touch and the little Brazilian was involved again before Sadio Mane side-footed feebly over the bar from Nathaniel Clyne's pass.

Liverpool could have had a penalty for hands against Joel Ward; and on a classic counter of their own between Adam Lallana and Coutinho, the former shot across goal.

They were not to be denied though and from another Coutinho corner, Matip headed his first goal for the club. Palace had practiced set plays on Friday with a view to using the aerial strength of Benteke and Dann. Perhaps they should have concentrated on defending against them, for the marking was again poor.

Roberto Firmino chips the ball over Steve Mandanda to score Liverpool's fourth (Getty)

After half-time there was no let-up as Palace came back bravely but, as it transpired, in vain. Twice Benteke swivelled and shot too close to goalkeeper Loris Karius and twice home supporters were furious at being denied penalties when Zaha went down, a little too easily.

The home side introduced Andros Townsend, initially left out as Alan Pardew preferred the defensive qualities of Lee Chung-yong, who worked hard but to little effect. Before the new man had time to influence the game, Liverpool had scored again. Jordan Henderson played a fine forward pass and Firmino ran on to chip over Mandanda.

Jurgen Klopp celebrates the victory with Nathaniel Clyne and Joel Matip (Getty)

Teams

Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Mandanda; Ward, Tomkins, Dann, Kelly; McArthur (Campbell, 84), Ledley (Puncheon, 73); Zaha,Cabaye, Lee (Townsend, 65); Benteke.

Liverpool (4-3-3): Karius; Clyne, Matip, Lovren, Moreno; Lallana (Wijnaldum, 75), Henderson, Can; Mane (Klavan, 89), Firmino, Coutinho (Origi, 87).

Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)