Liverpool FC crest
Liverpool FC

Coutinho (24)

FT
1 - 2
Premier League
16:30 Sun 23rd Apr 2017
Location: Anfield
Crystal Palace crest
Crystal Palace

Benteke (43, 74)

16:30 Sun 23rd Apr 2017
16:30 Sun 23rd Apr 2017 Anfield

Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Live matchday blog

Liverpool suffered a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield and a blow to their hopes of Champions League qualification as two goals from Christian Benteke overturned an opener from Philippe Coutinho.

The manager's verdict

Jürgen Klopp spoke of Liverpool's frustration at the 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in his post-match press conference, but stressed they will not allow it to dent their optimisim at securing a top-four finish.

Click here to read his thoughts.

Klopp:"Maybe Adam will be back for the next game, which will help us."

Klopp: "There is one month to go. One wonderful football month with four games. We will not give up, 100 per cent not."

Klopp: "In the end, we tried everything. We were not at our best but it was not about attitude. We couldn't finish our effort and it feels really frustrating."

97

Full Time

It's all over at Anfield and Liverpool suffer a blow in their quest to secure a top-four finish as they go down to a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace.

Philippe Coutinho put the Reds into the lead, but a double from Christian Benteke gives the visitors all three points on a disappointing afternoon for Jürgen Klopp's side.

93

Grujic meets Firmino's deep cross into the area, but he's stretching and can't guide it on target,

90

Six minutes of added time to be played.

89

Yellow Card

Grujic goes into the book for a late challenge.

88

Substitution

Last Palace sub and Benteke is off for Campbell.

87

Coutinho shoots from way out, but it's too high to trouble Hennessey.

84

Substitution

Last change for the Reds - Grujic on, Clyne off.

83

Substitution

Another Palace change - Cabaye off, Delaney on.

82

Substitution

Now Moreno is on for Milner.

78

Substitution

And a change for the Reds - Alexander-Arnold on for Lovren, who has picked up a knock.

77

Substitution

Palace make a change as Van Aanholt comes on for Zaha.

74

Goal - Christian Benteke

Palace have the lead as Benteke grabs his second of the afternoon with a stooping close-range header at a corner.

71

A let-off for the Reds as the ball drops for Cabaye inside the area but he hooks over the bar from 10 yards out.

70

The tempo of the game has dropped a bit now - Liverpool need to lift it again.

65

Liverpool open up Palace again; this time, Coutinho plays in Firmino, who drags an effort wide of the far post.

59

Lucas slides a pass through for Firmino, but Hennessey manages to get there just a split-second before our No.11.

56

Clyne fizzes in a cross from the right which Coutinho meets with a powerful header...but it smacks against Origi and the chance is gone.

53

Coutinho's corner bounces up for Lucas, who controls on his chest before blasting a half-volley well over.

52

How was that not a goal? Coutinho bobs and weaves his way into space inside the area before eventually shooting, but it's blocked when it seemed destined for the back of the net.

50

Lovely footwork from Coutinho on the edge of the area to create space, but he strikes over left footed.

46

We're back under way

Emre Can kicks the game off and we're back up and running at Anfield. Come on you Reds!

Half-time odds

Here's the latest betting odds with BETVICTOR.

Liverpool: 5/6
Draw: 7/4
Crystal Palace: 6/1

Fancy a flutter? Place your bets with BETVICTOR by clicking here.

The story of the first half in numbers...

Half Time

All square at the break

The Reds head back into the dressing room having been pegged back at Anfield, with Christian Benteke's goal cancelling out Philippe Coutinho's free-kick.

45

Benteke chests down Puncheon's cross and snaps a volley towards goal, but it's an easy take for Mignolet.

43

Goal

Goal - Christian Benteke

Palace are level through former Liverpool man Benteke.

Cabaye escaped behind Lovren down the right and hooked a ball across the box, allowing the striker to slam into the roof of the net from close range.

You can't say it had been coming, but the Reds need to react.

40

Yellow Card

Benteke goes into the book for simulation after going to ground under a challenge from Lovren inside the box.

38

It's almost 2-0 as Milner and Wijnaldum combine superbly down the left to release the latter into space inside the box. He cuts it back for Can, but a Palace body gets a block on the German's shot.

28

Yes, Phil!

24

Goal

GOAL! PHILIPPE COUTINHO!

Liverpool have the breakthrough - and it comes via a pearler of a free-kick from Coutinho.

After being fouled 25 yards from goal, the Little Magician picks himself up, dusts himself down and bends the resulting set piece over the Palace wall and into the corner.

Get in!

21

Benteke rides a couple of challenges on the edge of the Liverpool box before side footing towards the bottom corner. Thankfully, it bounces wide of Mignolet's post.

15

Match shot

10

Not a great to report in these opening exchanges. Liverpool are pressing, but Palace have stood firm so far.

3

Early half-chance for Wijnaldum, but his shot on the turn cannons against a Palace defender and is cleared.

Kick-Off

Here we go, then. We're under way at Anfield as Crystal Palace kick us off.

Come on you Reds!

Pre-match

Here's a reminder of the teamsheet...

Pre-match

And here's a glimpse inside the dressing room...

Pre-match

The lads make their way in...

Pre-match

Brewster on the bench - explained

The manager has revealed the reasons behind Rhian Brewster's inclusion as a substitute this afternoon. Read our story from Anfield by clicking here.

Pre-match

Snapped in the sunshine

Adam Lallana arrives at Anfield to support the team...

Pre-match

TEAM NEWS

The team news is in and it confirms Joel Matip is fit to start for Liverpool, with Jürgen Klopp naming an unchanged line-up.

Daniel Sturridge is ruled out due to a hip complaint, so 17-year-old Rhian Brewster is named among the substitutes.

Liverpool: Mignolet, Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner, Lucas, Can, Wijnaldum, Coutinho, Firmino, Origi.

Subs: Karius, Moreno, Grujic, Brewster, Alexander-Arnold, Woodburn, Gomez.

Pre-match

From the boss...

"The results and level of performance at Crystal Palace have undoubtedly improved under [Sam Allardyce's] leadership. He makes them one of the most difficult opponents to face in the Premier League. They will be strong, organised and positive in their approach. We have to perform to our maximum today - this is absolutely certain.

"We have just five matches of our season remaining and each and every second of these games could prove to be important. The supporters' role will be as crucial as ever and I have no doubt they will recognise their importance and perform from the stands as they have done throughout this season."

Pre-match

Looking good

Pre-match

Missed Jürgen's pre-match press conference? Watch it in full and for free below.

Pre-match

On this day...

...in 2011, Maxi Rodriguez scored a hat-trick as Liverpool beat Birmingham City 5-0 at Anfield.

All together now, 'Maxi, Maxi Rodriguez runs down the wing for me...'.

Pre-match

It's not just the men's first team that are in action today, Liverpool Ladies begin the Spring Series against Yeovil Town Ladies this afternoon at Huish Park. For more details and tickets, click here.

Best of luck, Ladies!

Pre-match

Getting set

Check out our gallery from training on Friday afternoon by clicking here.

Pre-match

The power of Anfield

Joel Matip - who is hoping to shake off an injury and be fit for today's game - believes Anfield could be a deciding factor in determining whether we secure a Champions League berth.

“Playing at Anfield, we have the supporters around us, giving us help and strength, and we’ll do our best to use this, to use the power of Anfield. They [the fans] push you, in every game, every pass, every set-piece. You see them surrounding you, you hear them. They give you that extra ‘plus’ that can maybe decide a game.”

Click here to read our chat with the No.32 in full.

Pre-match

Statistically speaking...

Here's how the numbers are looking ahead of today's game, with club statman and all-round good egg Ged Rea...

  • In the 15 Premier League meetings between the clubs, there have been 56 goals scored at an average of 3.73 per game. The Reds have netted in all but two of those fixtures, at an average of 2.3 goals per game.

  • Roberto Firmino, who netted in Liverpool's 4-2 win over Palace in this season's corresponding fixture, has scored in each of the Reds' last two matches. The Brazilian has never netted for the club in three successive league games.

  • Jürgen Klopp's side have lost just one of their last 24 home league games, recording 15 wins while drawing eight times in that period. 

For more pre-match stats, click here.

Pre-match

Sunday morning reading

Did you miss our exclusive interview with Emre Can yesterday? If you did, I suggest you grab yourself a brew, settle down and click here to read perhaps his most in-depth chat to date.

Pre-match

You can bet on it

Here's how our official betting partner, BETVICTOR, see today's game...

Liverpool: 1/2
Draw: 15/4
Crystal Palace: 6/1

Fancy a flutter? Place your bets with BETVICTOR by clicking here.

Pre-match

Weather

WEATHER LATEST

A little Sunday morning treat for you here, we're rolling out the hotly-anticipated Liverpoolfc.com weather update a little earlier than normal.

Why you may ask?

Well, firstly, we're commited to bringing you the latest matchday meteorological conditions and, secondly, it's such a glorious morning on Merseyside that it would be remiss of us not to.

Liverpool is basking in sunshine, the temperature is around 11 degrees and that's likely to remain the same for the rest of the day, if our sources are correct.

Pre-match

Good morning...

...and welcome to our live matchday blog as Liverpool get set to host Crystal Palace at Anfield in this afternoon's Premier League clash.

As always, we'll be here throughout the day bringing you all the build-up, team news, key stats, match action, photographs, reaction and much, much more.

So stick with us to see if the Reds' Champions League push can be maintained against the Eagles.

But first... do us a coffee there will you? Milk, no sugar. Ta.

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