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
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, 1 minute
It looks like a 4-5-1 for Crystal Palace, Odsonne Edouard lonely up top with Jordan Ayew out on the right, Jeffrey Schlupp the left.
Liverpool force the ball forward twice but can’t make the pass stick.
KICK OFF!
A peep on Andy Madley’s whistle and we are up and running at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Righty then. Another Premier League weekend is just about to get underway after the first midweek fun of the season - can Crystal Palace bounce back? Will Liverpool go top?
The players are ready.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
It’s just started to properly chuck it down in south London on another miserable December day. It is much warmer than last weekend.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
The Crystal Palace players creep through the rather cramped corridor leading to the Selhurst Park tunnel, readying themselves behind the officiating team. Andy Madley has the whistle today; John Brooks is his lead VAR.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
Liverpool will be very much eyeing top spot, with victory lifting them above Arsenal at least temporarily. It’s a tough trip to Villa Park for Mikel Arteta’s men later - can Liverpool put the pressure on with a win here?
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
In the other defensive four, this feels like a huge opportunity for Jarell Quansah. With Joel Matip done for the season after an unfortunately serious knee injury, that centre-half spot alongside Virgil van Dijk is very much up for grabs. Jurgen Klopp clearly trusts Quansah, who makes a second Premier League start today.
Crystal Palace vs Liverpool
It’ll be fascinating to see how the Selhurst Park crowd treat their team today. Roy Hodgson has apologised thrice for his midweek comments suggesting that Crystal Palace fans had been “spoilt” by their team’s long stay in the Premier League, but you get the sense that an early Liverpool goal or two could get the home fans to turn on Hodgson and his squad.
Certainly, the lack of left-back cover looks a concern - ex-Liverpool full-back Nathaniel Clyne is having to fill in with Tyrick Mitchell absent. A right-footer may be valuable given Mohamed Salah’s tendency to cut in, but you’d imagine the Egyptian will fancy his chances at getting at a makeshift left-back.
Liverpool arrive at Selhurst Park
Here’s Liverpool arriving at Selhurst Park a little earlier.
Jurgen Klopp opens up on January transfer plans after Joel Matip injury news
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is not planning to buy a centre-back to cover Joel Matip’s expected absence for the rest of the season but admits the nature of the Premier League means all clubs are “only two injuries away from a real problem”.
Matip’s anterior cruciate ligament injury means Klopp now has five senior players unavailable – Diogo Jota, Andy Robertson, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic – with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister doubtful for the weekend trip to Crystal Palace after sustaining a problem in the midweek win over Sheffield United.
In central defence he has Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate – who has had two spells on the sidelines already this season – Joe Gomez and 20-year-old Jarell Quansah and he believes that will be enough to sustain them providing there are no further setbacks.
Klopp said rival clubs would not be leaving a top-class centre-back “under the Christmas tree for us” so he would likely manage with what he has.
Jurgen Klopp opens up on January transfer plans after Joel Matip injury news
Matip’s anterior cruciate ligament injury means Klopp now has five senior players unavailable.
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