09 December 2023 , 15:20
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Liverpool displayed their remarkable powers of recovery once again to go top of the Premier League table courtesy of Harvey Elliott's 90th-minute firecracker.
No Premier League side has won more points than the Reds from losing positions this season - 18 - and that never-say-die spirit is the hallmark of champions.
They needed a helping hand from Jordan Ayew, sent off for a second caution, as Mohamed Salah quickly punished his dismissal by netting his 200th Liverpool goal and 150th in the top-flight. This was far from the Egyptian King's finest outing as he struggled up against former team-mate Nathaniel Clyne but he also teed up Elliott for his stunning late winner. The 20-year-old playmaker is now harvesting a credible reputation as Liverpool's priceless super-sub.
A last-gasp stop from the returning Alisson Becker was also required to help Liverpool over the line as the Reds completed the perfect week following hard-fought victories over Fulham and Sheffield United.
They dominated first-half possession with a snarling arrogance but the organisation of Crystal Palace's defensive block scrambled the brains of Jurgen Klopp's fidgety frontline. Palace soon began to exploit Liverpool's impatience via surging counter-attacks.
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First Ayew galloped down the right and his scruffy cross found Jefferson Lerma at the back post, who forced a commendable stop from Alisson. Lerma undoubtedly should have scored but the ball then bounced awkwardly onto the post before being hacked clear by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Harvey Elliott struck Liverpool's late winner at Crystal Palace (DANIEL HAMBURY/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Minutes later, Palace were awarded a penalty when Virgil van Dijk tripped Odsonne Edouard but Liverpool were handed a reprieve following an exhausting four-minute VAR delay as Will Hughes was adjudged to have fouled Wataru Endo.
It was a different story after the interval, however. Jean-Philippe Mateta entered the fray and went to ground after Jarell Quansah kicked through the back of the centre-forward at the front post. The challenge had looked somewhat innocuous in real time but 90 seconds later, Madley pointed to the spot upon the recommendation of VAR official John Brooks at Stockley Park.
Up stepped Mateta, who dispatched with ease - prompting an decisive double attacking substitution from desperate Klopp. Palace remained comfortable until a drastic swing of the pendulum when Ayew received his second bookable offence for fouling Harvey Elliott on 75 minutes.
A minute later - it was brutally punished as Salah fired home the equaliser following a wicked deflection off Clyne that left Sam Johnstone helpless. Roy Hodgson - chasing just his second home victory of the season - was booked for his furious remonstrations.
Palace's wretched luck was perfectly summarised by a late injury to their goalkeeper as Johnstone was replaced by Remi Matthews. Unfortunately his first-ever Eagles appearance won't live long in the memory as Elliott collected the ball from Salah, jinked at the Palace defence before firing home from range shortly just after 10 minutes of additional time had been displayed on the fourth official's board.
But the points weren't secure just yet as Alisson was equal to Joachim Andersen's late header to make sure of another precious victory when he turned the ball around the post impressively at the death.