August 20 2018

Roy Hodgson

Crystal Palace suffered their first defeat of the season after a 2-0 reverse at home to Liverpool.

Roy Hodgson's men had been unbeaten in seven Premier League games going back to a 2-1 loss to Liverpool on March 31 and they repeated the trick again.

The title-chasing Reds dominated possession with slick passing but the match turned on a pivotal moment on the stroke of half-time when they were awarded a controversial penalty.

Eagles defender Mamadou Sakho put his arms on Mohamed Salah and then had two nibbles on the striker, who went down in instalments and won a spot kick. Midfielder James Milner sent Wayne Hennessey the wrong way to put the Reds in front.

But before that, Andros Townsend was desperately unlucky not to fire Palace ahead with a vicious strike from long range that beat keeper Alisson and smashed against the crossbar.

Though Liverpool dominated most of the first half, they were unable to break down a well-organised Palace – until Milner's penalty.

Jurgen Klopp's team almost added a second goal before the interval after Salah rounded Wayne Hennessey and Sadio Mane missed his chance.

Palace were more offensive in the second period and went close to pulling one back when Luka Milivojevic's free-kick was palmed away by Alisson.

Patrick van Aanholt and Wilfried Zaha had efforts on goal but neither could breach Brazilian stopper Alisson's net.

The Eagles then had to play the remaining 15 minutes with 10 men after Aaron Wan-Bissaka caught the back of Salah's feet as he was clear on goal with just Hennessey to beat. It was Palace's first sending off since February 2016.

With the extra man advantage, Liverpool had Palace on the back foot and Hennessey had to save from from Mane and Salah.

The hosts did then concede a second goal in stoppage time as Liverpool launched a speedy counter-attack from a Palace corner as the danger man Salah fed Mane to score.

Palace: Hennessey, Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt, Townsend (Ward 79), Milivojevic, McArthur, Schlupp (Meyer 83), Zaha, Benteke (Sorloth 70).

Not used: Guaita, Kelly, Kouyate, Ayew.

Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Gomez, Robertson, Milner (Henderson 67), Wijnaldum, Keita (Lallana 87), Mane, Salah, Firmino (Sturridge 90).

Not used: Mignolet, Moreno, Matip, Shaqiri.

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