Damien Delaney: 'Linesman wanted to give penalty to Liverpool'

Crystal Palace defender Damien Delaney has suggested that Premier League linesman Scott Ledger wanted to give Liverpool a late penalty in yesterday's match at Selhurst Park.

With the score at 1-1 in injury time, Liverpool stole the points thanks to a penalty from Christian Benteke, who fell to the floor upon Delaney closing him down in the area.

Referee Andre Marriner appeared to give a goal kick, but Ledger said that it was a penalty and Marriner changed his mind and pointed to the spot.

Delaney wrote on his Instagram page last night that he waited for an hour to speak to Marriner after the match and had it confirmed that the referee changed his mind upon his linesman's insistence.

PA quotes Delaney as saying: "It seemed like [Benteke] overran it maybe and went down. I did not feel any contact. It is a big call. I looked at the referee immediately and he gave a goal kick. It was only afterwards I saw loads of people running towards the linesman. It sums us up at the minute.

"I did not feel any contact. When I saw him go down and looked around to the referee giving a goal kick, I thought it was the correct decision. Someone said the linesman was flagging furiously.

"There is no way he could have been 100% sure. He gave it so quickly. I looked at it afterwards and he is flagging before he has even hit the ground. It looked like he could not wait to give it. It looked like he wanted to give it."

Palace are without a league win in 12 matches, dropping from sixth to 15th and within nine points of the relegation zone.