Joe Allen has scored his first Premier League goal for Liverpool to give the title-chasing Reds a 1-0 lead over Crystal Palace at the halfway stage of their match at Selhurst Park this evening.
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The visitors spurned a glorious chance to break the deadlock after just eight minutes when Steven Gerrard's corner found Mamadou Sakho unmarked at the back post, only for the centre-back to nod wide from close range.
They came close again in the 15th minute as Allen chipped the ball through for Glen Johnson, who got there before Julian Speroni but sent his looping header narrowly over.
Liverpool did take the lead just three minutes later, however, as Palace again failed to pick up their men from a corner, allowing Allen to nod home when unmarked at the back post.
It was almost 2-0 shortly after the half-hour mark when Luis Suarez sent a dipping free kick just wide from all of 30 yards out.
Palace came close themselves moments later as the ball fell to Jason Puncheon, who drew a good low stop from Simon Mignolet with a snap shot from 20 yards.
Mignolet was called upon again with 10 minutes left of the half, tipping over a powerful effort from Mile Jedinak after the Palace skipper had been teed up by Joe Ledley.
Liverpool almost doubled their advantage shortly before the break as Gerrard and Allen combined to set up Suarez on the break, but the Uruguayan's shot was gathered by Speroni at his near post.
Barney Corkhill
