EPL: Late Benteke penalty gives 10-man Liverpool thrilling 2-1 win over Crystal Palace
Liverpool made a spirited second half fight back after going a goal down and a man down against Crystal Palace to take all three points. The hosts took the lead just three minutes into the second half after Joe Ledley drilled a low drive into the bottom right hand side corner.
But Liverpool responded strongly despite James Milner being sent off just after the hour mark for a second bookable offense. Palace’s negative play ended up being their downfall as Firmino equalized after keeper McCarthy’s mistake. And deep into stoppage time Benteke converted from the spot to give Jurgen Klopp his third successive win in the Premier League
Squads:
Crystal Palace:
McCarthy, Ward, Dann, Delaney, Souare, Zaha, Jedinak, Cabaye, Ledley, Bolasie; Adebayor.
Liverpool:
Mignolet, Flanagan, Lovren, Sakho, Moreno; Henderson, Can, Milner; Lallana, Firmino, Origi.
First Half: Liverpool dominate possession but Palace the more threatening
Liverpool were upbeat after their thrashing of Manchester City and Jurgen Klopp wanted his team to show the same passion and be 'angry' for the game. The manager left his two-star players Daniel Sturridge and Phillipe Coutinho playing Divok Origi up front. Adam Lallana retained his place in midfield after his man of the match performance in the previous game
The game started at a high tempo with both teams trying to stamp their authority early in the match. Liverpool settled first, finding their passing rhythm very quickly. In the fifth minute, Lallana created the Reds’ first chance. After exchanging a couple of passes with Flanagan he found Firmino whose cross was blocked by McCarthy. That set Crystal Palace on the counter and Adebayor found Bolasie but his shot was saved by Mignolet from point blank range.
The Togolese striker threatened once again as his low curling shot was thwarted by Liverpool’s Belgian stopper. Just a minute later, he went closer this time striking the bar with a nodded close range header.
Liverpool did have more of the possession but Crystal Palace looked the more dangerous. The remaining of the first half saw the game become cagier as both sides cancelled each other out in attack
Second Half: Palace take early lead but the Reds fight back
Crystal palace started the better in the second half and their attacking play reaped rewards. Just three minutes after the restart Liverpool once again showed their susceptibility from set pieces. The ball whipped in by Cabaye was not cleared properly and the ball found its way to Joe Ledley on the edge of the area. The Welshman drilled a low drive that flew past Mignolet giving Palace a well-deserved lead.
Liverpool tried to respond quickly but their passing let them down giving the ball away too often. And int he 62nd minute it got worse for the Reds. James Milner brought down Wilfried Zaha on the edge of Palace’s box just as they were about to break. Having already been booked the referee had no option to show the Englishman a second yellow and Jurgen Klopp’s men went down to 10-men.
You would expect Palace to dominate possession after that but instead, Liverpool came on to them. The away side’s influence started to grow as they created two chances in five minutes but couldn't find the finishing touch.
But Palace shot themselves in the foot just a few minutes later. Keeper McCarthy was the stand in for the injured Hennessey slipped while trying to clear the ball, and his miskick landed perfectly into the path of Firmino who kept his composure to score and levelling it up.
Klopp in an effort to go for the win put Christian Benteke on for the final ten minutes of the game. And the big striker delivered for his manager. Right at the death, he won a penalty for his side after it looked like Delaney had brought him down in the box. The Belgian stepped up and coolly slotted away from the spot kick to send Klopp into overdrive.
It was heartbreak for Crystal Palace as they loose another their third successive home game.