Half-Time Report: Crystal Palace, Liverpool all square after Dwight Gayle goal

Crystal Palace striker Dwight Gayle netted his fourth goal in three Premier League games against Liverpool to level things up at half time in this afternoon's encounter at Selhurst Park.

It took Liverpool less than 90 seconds to go in front, and it was a first goal for his boyhood club from Rickie Lambert.

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The striker, starting in place of of the injured Mario Balotelli, stole in behind former Liverpool full-back Martin Kelly and controlled Adam Lallana's through ball before tucking under Julian Speroni.

Palace were level in the 17th minute when Gayle, who scored twice against Brendan Rodgers's side to damage their title hopes at the end of last season, reacted quickest to poke home after Yannick Bolasie's low drive had pinged back off the foot of the post.

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Lambert could have restored Liverpool's lead, but he headed a Steven Gerrard free kick over the bar, while Bolasie continued to cause the visitors problems with a shot from range that Simon Mignolet parried wide.

Bolasie had two more openings in the final minutes of the half, but was denied by a Javier Manquillo's last-ditch challenge before firing over from a tight angle.

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