Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes suffered a huge blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Eberechi Eze converted from Tyrick Mitchell’s cut-back to finish off a flowing Palace move early on and the visitors were deservedly in front at the break.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds ramped up the pressure in the second half but, just as in recent games against Manchester United and Atalanta, their finishing let them down as they fell to their first home league defeat since November 2022.
Defeat leaves Liverpool two points behind leaders Manchester City and level on points with Arsenal before the Gunners’ game against Aston Villa later on Sunday (16:30 BST kick-off).
Palace started brightly and led through Eze’s well-worked opener, before a slip from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk gave Jean-Philippe Mateta a golden opportunity to double their lead.
The striker was clean through and lifted his effort past the returning Alisson Becker but Andy Robertson sprinted back to hook the ball off the line.
Liverpool rallied and Wataru Endo struck the bar after Palace failed to deal with a corner before Dean Henderson made a fine reaction save to deny Luis Diaz.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace retained a threat on the counter-attack until the break but were largely penned inside their own half in the second 45 minutes.
Henderson made another superb stop from Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota’s close-range effort was blocked by Nathaniel Clyne with the goalkeeper nowhere to be seen and Curtis Jones somehow sliced wide when put clean through.
Mateta did have another big chance to score the visitors’ second from a rare Palace attack but Alisson made a remarkable save from point-blank range.
Liverpool kept pushing for an equaliser but could not find a way through, with Mohamed Salah’s goalbound effort from inside the six-yard box blocked by Mitchell in stoppage time. The Reds are now left to reflect on a potentially decisive loss with just six games remaining in the league campaign.
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Line-ups
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 84BradleySubstituted forAlexander-Arnoldat 48′minutes
- 5Konaté
- 4van Dijk
- 26Robertson
- 10Mac Allister
- 3EndoSubstituted forSzoboszlaiat 45′minutes
- 17JonesBooked at 71minsSubstituted forElliottat 82′minutes
- 11Salah
- 9NúñezSubstituted forGakpoat 66′minutes
- 7DÃazSubstituted forJotaat 66′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Gomez
- 8Szoboszlai
- 18Gakpo
- 19Elliott
- 20Jota
- 38Gravenberch
- 62Kelleher
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 78Quansah
Crystal Palace
Formation 3-4-3
- 30Henderson
- 17ClyneSubstituted forWardat 77′minutes
- 16Andersen
- 8LermaBooked at 90mins
- 12Muñoz
- 20A Wharton
- 19HughesSubstituted forRiedewaldat 77′minutes
- 3Mitchell
- 7OliseSubstituted forJ Ayewat 68′minutes
- 14MatetaSubstituted forÃdouardat 90′minutes
- 10EzeSubstituted forSchluppat 77′minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ward
- 5Tomkins
- 9J Ayew
- 15Schlupp
- 22Ãdouard
- 29Ahamada
- 31Matthews
- 44Riedewald
- 52Ozoh
Live Text
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Match ends, Liverpool 0, Crystal Palace 1.
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Second Half ends, Liverpool 0, Crystal Palace 1.
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Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card.
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Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Jefferson Lerma (Crystal Palace).
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Tyrick Mitchell.
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Attempt blocked. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Diogo Jota.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Odsonne Ãdouard replaces Jean-Philippe Mateta.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Daniel Muñoz.
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Attempt missed. Diogo Jota (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross.
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Attempt saved. Harvey Elliott (Liverpool) header from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cody Gakpo with a cross.
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Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace).
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Foul by Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool).
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Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Dominik Szoboszlai with a cross following a corner.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Harvey Elliott replaces Curtis Jones.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Joachim Andersen.
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Foul by Curtis Jones (Liverpool).
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Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Source Agencies