Christian Benteke came back to haunt his former club as Crystal Palace beat Liverpool at Anfield to take a giant stride towards Premier League survival and dent their opponents’ top-four aspirations.
Benteke scored in both halfs on Sunday as Sam Allardyce’s Eagles mounted a brilliant fightback after Liverpool took the lead through Philippe Coutinho’s fine free-kick in the 24th minute.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Liverpool sold Benteke to Palace last summer for five million pounds less than they paid for the Belgium striker a year earlier.
And it was his burly presence in the final third that proved the difference in an entertaining contest.
His first was a well-taken strike high into the net from Yohan Cabaye’s low cross in the 42nd minute.
His second was a poacher’s header from six yards, and it came in the 74th minute after some lax Liverpool defending at a corner kick.
Palace who also earned a brilliant win at leaders Chelsea on April 1 have now won six of their last eight league games to move on to 38 points.
They are now seven points clear of danger, and has assured them of another season of top-flight football.
Palace have now triumphed on their last three league visits to Anfield — the first team to achieve that feat since Chelsea in October 2005.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds stay in third place, but they have now played two games more than Manchester City in fourth place and fifth-place Manchester United.
City and United re just two and three points back respectively.(NAN)