Liverpool score with last kick of game to beat Crystal Palace
/dnl.tntsports.co.uk/sd/img/placeholder/tnt_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 06/03/2016 at 18:33 GMT
Premier League, Selhurst Park – Crystal Palace 1 (Ledley 48) Liverpool 2 (Firmino 72, Benteke pen 90+5)
Liverpool celebrate Christian Benteke's winning goal against Crystal Palace
Image credit: Reuters
Christian Benteke scored a penalty with the last kick of the game as 10-man Liverpool came from a goal down to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 in dramatic circumstances at Selhurst Park.
The Belgian went to ground under minimal contact from Damien Delaney in the fourth minute of stoppage time and referee Andre Marriner pointed to the spot. Benteke nervelessly waited for goalkeeper Alex McCarthy to dive, then rolled the ball into the opposite corner.
It completed a remarkable comeback for a Liverpool side that went a goal down and a man down after Joe Ledley's low shot through a crowd of players gave Palace the lead.
Palace looked in complete control when James Milner was sent off for a second bookable offence, his first red card in a Liverpool shirt.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2016/03/06/1809826-38193811-2560-1440.jpg)
Crystal Palace's Damien Delaney fouls Liverpool's Christian Benteke resulting in a penalty
Image credit: Reuters
Roberto Firmino then capitalised on a goalkeeping howler from Alex McCarthy to equalise on 72 minutes to set up the dramatic finale.
The result means that Liverpool defeat Palace for the first time since 1997 and rise two places to seventh in the table, while Palace stay 15th and are still without a league win in 2016.
TALKING POINT
Penalty or no penalty? It was a crazy decision for Delaney to dive in but there looked to be minimal contact. The defender seemed to pull out of the challenge although his knee may have clipped his heel. Tough to tell.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Dejan Lovren (Liverpool) The rest of his defensive line gave questionable performances but he hardly missed a single header or challenge on one of his better performances in a Liverpool shirt.
PLAYER RATINGS
Crystal Palace: McCarthy 5; Ward 6, Dann 7, Delaney 6, Souare 6; Zaha 7, Jedinak 6, Cabaye 6, Ledley 7, Bolasie 6; Adebayor 7. SUBS: Subs: Mutch 6, Sako 6, Gayle 6.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2016/03/06/1809828-38193851-2560-1440.jpg)
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp celebrates with Dejan Lovren at the end of the match
Image credit: Reuters
Liverpool: Mignolet 7, Flanagan 6, Lovren 8, Sakho 6, Moreno 5, Henderson 6, Can 6, Milner 5, Lallana 6, Firmino 7, Origi 6. SUBS: Toure 6, Coutinho 7, Benteke 7.
KEY MOMENTS
6’ – CHANCES AT EITHER END: Firmino crosses by the touchline and McCarthy parries his cross. Palace counter and Adebayor feeds Bolasie and it’s a good save from Mignolet, coming off his line early to read the danger.
10’ – ADEBAYOR HITS THE BAR: The big Ivorian rises to thump Pape Souare’s cross against the bar.
48’ – GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-0 LIVERPOOL: it’s Joe Ledley who rifles his shot through a crowd of players and into the corner after some pinball in the box.
61’ – RED CARD MILNER: He receives his marching orders for bringing down Zaha, a second bookable offence and first red card in a Liverpool shirt.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2016/03/06/1809847-38194231-2560-1440.jpg)
Liverpool's James Milner is shown a red card by referee Andre Marriner
Image credit: Reuters
72’ – GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-1 LIVERPOOL: it’s a calamity for McCarthy, who slips and miskicks his clearance straight at Firmino, who slots home his eighth of the campaign.
88’ –POST! Liverpool a whisker from taking the lead as Moreno’s fierce drive comes back off the inside of the post. One centimetre closer, it’s a goal.
90+4’ – GOAL! CRYSTAL PALACE 1-2 LIVERPOOL: Benteke wins it for Liverpool in the most dramatic circumstances, rolling it home from the spot after being fouled in the box by Delaney.
KEY STATS
Liverpool win three consecutive PL matches for the first time with Jürgen Klopp as manager.
Joe Ledley scored his fifth PL goal and his second against Liverpool after scoring in this exact fixture last season (23 November 2014).
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2016/03/06/1809839-38194071-2560-1440.jpg)
Joe Ledley celebrates with team mates after scoring the first goal for Crystal Palace
Image credit: Reuters
Philippe Coutinho is the second Brazilian, after Lucas Leiva (216), to make 100 PL appearances for Liverpool.
James Milner is sent off for the first time as a Liverpool player.
Liverpool's last away league win at Palace before today was in December 1997, when Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and Oyvind Leonhardsen scored in a 3-0 victory.
The Eagles remain the only side in the top four divisions of English football without a league win in 2016. They are winless in 11 league games (D4, L7).
MATCH IN A TWEET
Related Topics
Share this article