English Premier League leaders Liverpool recovered from a poor first half display to come from behind to beat battling Crystal Palace 4-3 in a thrilling goalfest at Anfield on Saturday.
The win, secured by late goals from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, moves Juergen Klopp’s side seven points clear of Manchester City.
The defending champions will face bottom club Huddersfield Town on Sunday.
Crystal Palace took a shock 34th minute lead, against the run of play, when Andros Townsend slotted home a fine pull-back from Wilfried Zaha.
Liverpool equalised 47 seconds after the interval when the ball looped high into the area.
Salah skilfully converted with the outside of his left foot, after Virgil van Dijk’s long-range effort was blocked.
Suddenly Liverpool were buzzing and it was no surprise when Brazilian Roberto Firmino put them ahead.
The Brazilian collected a pass from Naby Keita and beat veteran Crystal Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni with a slightly deflected low shot.
But Crystal Palace were not about to roll over.
They fought back to level at 2-2 in the 65th minute, when James Tomkins was left unattended to to head in a Luka Milivojevic corner.
Speroni, Crystal Palace’s 39-year-old third-choice, then gifted Liverpool a goal when his one-handed waft at a harmless-looking James Milner cross fell for Salah to tap in after 75 minutes.
Milner was sent off in the 89th minute for a second yellow card after a late challenge on Zaha.
Mane the added the fourth for the hosts with a solo strike in stoppage time.
There was still time for Palace to strike again with Max Meyer beating Alisson Becker with a low shot which the Brazilian goalkeeper would have expected to save.(Reuters/NAN)