Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
by Gene Sylvester
at Selhurst Park

IN A GAME where Liverpool knew a win would take his team to the summit of the Premier League, even if only for a few hours until Arsenal took on Aston Villa later in the day, the Reds’ title credentials were given a severe test down at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool had to come back from a goal down against Crystal Palace to eventually run out 2-1 winners, with a few questionable VAR decisions along the way which left a sour taste in Roy Hodgson’s mouth following the final whistle.

“To force us to play with 10 men for the last 15-plus minutes of the game was a really, really harsh outcome. Up to the point of the sending off, which I totally disagree with, we did really well,” bemoaned the Palace boss, referring to the dismissal of Jordan Ayew in the 75th minute for a second yellow card offence.

“The first yellow with Virgil Van Dijk kicking the ball against Jordan to get him his first yellow card, and I thought the second yellow card was a tackle, whether it was a foul or not I wouldn’t want to swear to, but I didn’t think it was a yellow card,” Hodgson concluded.

The Palace man’s sending off for a second bookable offence, bringing down match winner Harvey Elliott, was the turning point in a game where the home side had restricted the visitors to only two shots on target all game and were fully deserving of their 57th minute lead which came about following a lengthy VAR check which required the game to be pulled back a couple of minutes after the incident occurred.

A ball played into the near post towards Palace substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta saw the French striker beat Van Dijk and Jarell Quansah to the ball, with the latter kicking the back of the Palace striker’s calf as he attempted to clear the ball.

Referee Andy Madley was belatedly advised to check the pitch-side monitor for a potential penalty and only needed a brief look at the replay to award Hodgson’s men the penalty, which Mateta himself stepped up to take, placing his shot down the middle of the goal with Alisson diving to his right.

VAR had earlier overruled a penalty award for the Eagles, given by the on-pitch referee following  Van Dijk’s trip on Odsonne Edouard who was through one on one with the Liverpool goalkeeper.

VAR asked Madley to consult the pitch-side monitor to review a potential foul in the build-up where Will Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Wataru Endo when dispossessing him prior to supplying Edouard in the box which led to the Van Dijk foul.

“They could have had a penalty in the first half which was ruled out for the foul on Wataru. I know we were lucky as we scored directly after the red card also,” acknowledged Liverpool boss Klopp.

Klopp’s side found themselves level 60 seconds after the Ayew sending off when Mohammed Salah scored his 200th club goal for the club with his side’s first shot on target.

But it was substitute Elliott who stole the headlines with another late winner with a wonderful solo goal, weaving past the goalscorer Mateta before unleashing a delightful curling shot, beating substitute keeper Palace Remi Matthews at his new post to give Klopp’s troops all three points.

“Our subs were super influential, and that has been the story of this season, what we bring from the bench,” beamed the Liverpool boss.