MX23RW : Saturday, December 14 08:28:23| >> :120:14263:14263:
[monks data]
Crystal Palace logo
Premier League
May 5, 2014 at 8pm UK
 
Liverpool logo

3-3

Delaney (79'), Gayle (81', 88')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Allen (18'), Sturridge (53'), Suarez (55')

Match Analysis: Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool

Sports Mole takes a closer look at how title-chasing Liverpool threw away a three-goal cushion to draw 3-3 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool inexplicably threw away a three-goal lead in the final 12 minutes to draw 3-3 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tonight and hand the impetus in the Premier League title race firmly to Manchester City.

Joe Allen opened the scoring on 18 minutes with his first goal for the Reds, and Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez increased Liverpool's advantage before the hour mark.

The visitors saw their lead reduced by Damien Delaney's deflected 25-yard shot on 78 minutes and, as Liverpool continued to push forward, they were caught out by Yannick Bolasie's 60-yard break.

The winger squared for substitute Dwight Gayle to guide into the bottom corner, and the club-record signing completed the comeback on 88 minutes when he tucked the ball underneath Simon Mignolet.

The result took Brendan Rodgers's side back to the top of the table, one point above the Citizens, who have a game in hand and two home matches from which four points will secure them the championship.

Below, Sports Mole analyses whether the result was reflective of the action in London.

Match statistics

Palace
Shots: 10
On target: 6
Possession: 35%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 7

Liverpool
Shots: 26
On target: 9
Possession: 65%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 12

Was the result fair?

It seems incredibly harsh on Liverpool considering that they were in complete control for 78 minutes of the contest, but they paid for their naivety and poor defending, which has often gone unpunished this season. Palace deserve great credit for showing the character and composure in front of goal to come from three goals behind, so cannot be begrudged a point that they should never have had the chance to earn.

Liverpool's performance

For 78 minutes, this was an excellent Liverpool performance, with a couple of great Mignolet saves and a lightning start to the second half helping them to a three-goal cushion which should never have been surrendered. The naivety to think that chasing down Manchester City's goal difference would be relevant in the title race rather than take the three points on offer was staggering, and even after conceding one goal, they did not readjust their mentality or tactics. Defensive errors which have been masked by the goalscoring exploits of Suarez, Sturridge and company for most of the season were finally punished. A team with the joint-ninth best defensive record in the league is highly unlikely to win the title regardless of how many they are sticking away at the other end. Liverpool had the job done and were all set to take the championship race to the final day of the season before throwing it away in inexcusable fashion.

Palace's performance

There did seem to be signs of complacency in a first-half performance which did not quite have the organisation and solidarity associated with a Tony Pulis team. They were dangerous going forward, with the pace of Bolasie on the break always a threat. They looked like they could score goals against a Liverpool defence which had plenty of gaps in it, gaps which got bigger as the game went on and legs became tireder, stretched by Bolasie's pace and the fresh legs of Gayle. What may go unnoticed is how well Palace finished their chances, as they only really created three in the final 12 minutes and took all of them. Pulis deserves great credit for forming a side with the resilience to launch such a comeback.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Yannick Bolasie Lively but lacking control in the first 78 minutes, Bolasie appeared to be having another one of those games where he provided excitement, but no real substance. He really came alive in the final 10 minutes, though, and it was his pace which brought about the second goal, and then pushed Liverpool deeper and deeper as they prepared for the counter-attack. He was Palace's go-to man in the final stages as he, Gayle and his teammates produced one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history.

Biggest gaffe

Liverpool's defending for Palace's second goal was dreadful. Philippe Coutinho should have fouled Bolasie as the winger began his 60-yard sprint up the pitch. Glen Johnson then jumped in to try to tackle the Eagles man instead of jockeying him, and Jon Flanagan allowed Gayle too much space in the box to apply the finish. It was a series of mistakes which gave Palace the belief that they could get that crucial third.

Referee performance

Mark Clattenburg waved away two strong penalty appeals from Liverpool which seemed unlikely to be relevant to the result until the late shenanigans. Bolasie catching Johnson on his follow-through on seven minutes was a probable spot kick, and Scott Dann's blatant second-half block of Suarez certainly was.

What next?

Palace: The Eagles will be hoping to finish what has been a remarkable second half of the season when they travel across London to face already-relegated Fulham at Craven Cottage.

Liverpool: All eyes will be on Manchester City on Wednesday as they pray for Aston Villa to cause an upset, but victory over Newcastle United is imperative if they are to have a chance at the title.

ID:153622: cacheID:153622:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:8239:
Written by
Joe Fish
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Dwight Gayle #16 (R) of Crystal Palace celebrates with teammate Yannick Bolasie after scoring his team's third goal to level the scores at 3-3 against Liverpool on May 5, 2014
Read Next:
Palace stun Liverpool with comeback
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!