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Crystal Palace v Liverpool LIVE: Result and reaction as Harvey Elliott smashes home late winner

Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool: Elliott and Salah send Reds top after Ayew’s sending off

Harry Latham-Coyle
Saturday 09 December 2023 15:50 GMT
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Hodgson an outstanding person - Klopp

Liverpool went to the top of the Premier League table with victory over ten-man Crystal Palace as Harvey Elliott fired home a brilliant late winner.

Elliott’s 90th minute strike ensured a below-par Liverpool took all three points away from Selhurst Park after Mohamed Salah had cancelled out Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty.

Home manager Roy Hodgson had been booed by Crystal Palace supporters after a flat midweek defeat to Bournemouth, but his team responded well with a vastly-improved performance.

The London club were in control of the game after Mateta converted from 12 yards following a foul by young Liverpool defender Jarrel Quansah, before the game swung. A seemingly innocuous trip on Elliott by Jordan Ayew saw the forward shown a second yellow card by referee Andy Madley.

And almost immediately after Ayew was dismissed, Salah’s deflected effort — his 200th Liverpool goal — put Liverpool level, allowing substitute Elliott to produce a moment of quality and take Liverpool a point above Arsenal, who play Aston Villa later on Saturday.

Re-live all the action below plus get the latest Premier League odds and tips for the match right here:

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 36 minutes

Liverpool just seem to have lost their calm a bit, too. Alisson is sauntering forward to take an unthreatening free kick with no Crystal Palace player in sight, but Virgil van Dijk out-jumps his goalkeeper and almost heads the ball into danger. Alisson does manage to get to the second ball.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 13:07

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 34 minutes

Well well well. This has been an excellent little period for Crystal Palace, bunkering down in the first 20 minutes but now starting to show their attacking promise.

This will be a worry, though, given their existing injury problems - Odsonne Edouard is down in pain.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 13:04

OVERTURNED! Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 33 minutes

NO PENALTY! Andy Madley has a long look at the footage both in real time and slow motion, and his final assessment is to rescind his on-field call. Hughes had just clipped Wataru Endo’s legs, too - it does look a foul, and duly given as such.

A let-off for Liverpool.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 13:03

PENALTY! Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 29 minutes

Penalty Crystal Palace! Virgil van Dijk swipes Odsonne Edouard’s legs away with the striker through on goal, and that’s a stonewall spot-kick.

But was there a foul from Will Hughes to spark the move? It’s a biff in the back of Wataru Endo that has prompted the VAR to come in - John Brooks is having a look at the footage, with Andy Madley happy to let things run on the pitch.

Brooks calls referee Madley over to the screen.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 12:59

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 27 minutes

How has that not gone in? What a save from Alisson!

A fluent Crystal Palace attack and Jordan Ayew this time finds the perfect ball, putting it on a plate for a marauding Jefferson Lerma at the far stick. Lerma seems set to slot home and connects cleanly with his effort, but Alisson sprawls across to get two hands to it.

It appears like Lerma’s crisp strike may still end up in the bottom corner as it loops away from the goalkeeper’s palms, but the ball collides with the upright and away.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 12:58

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 26 minutes

Ray Lewington barks some orders at the Crystal Palace side, Roy Hodson’s long-time assistant making his point clear. His players nearly respond perfectly, pressing and pressuring Alisson, but the Brazilian just about avoids an error with some cool, confident footwork.

(Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 12:55

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 24 minutes

Joachim Andersen can and does, but the centre back’s first header balloons into the air, and he can’t make anything of the second attempt with the ball dropping back down to earth.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 12:54

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 23 minutes

And that’s good from the home side, too, winning a corner off Trent Alexander-Arnold’s legs after a more direct advancement.

Plenty of height in the Crystal Palace side - can they challenge in the air?

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 12:53

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 21 minutes

Delightful play through a central area from Crystal Palace, intricately weaving between retreating Liverpool shirts and creating room on the right. Jordan Ayew is the beneficiary and has an age to pick out a teammate with a cross, or unleash a shot of his own, but his eventual delivery is timid and cleared in comfort. Still, bright signs from Roy Hodgson’s side.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 12:51

Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool, 18 minutes

The best part of 20 minutes in and still no major chances to speak of at Selhurst Park, with Liverpool finding their flow in possession but Crystal Palace playing some good reactive defensive football. Nathaniel Clyne reacts sharpest to a forward ball, beating Mohamed Salah to it and clearing off his left foot.

Harry Latham-Coyle9 December 2023 12:48

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