Alan Pardew backs Liverpool to challenge for Premier League title

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has backed Liverpool to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

Pardew saw his side fall to a 4-2 home defeat at the hands of the Reds this evening - a result that lifted Jurgen Klopp's men back level on points with Manchester City and Arsenal at the top of the table.

Liverpool's start has seen many tip them to end their 26-year wait for a league title this term, and Pardew believes that they will be in the mix at the end of the campaign.

"I don't know about winning the league but they are certainly going to be close," he told reporters.

"The two centre-halves were terrific even if they made a mistake. That's an area they are not so strong, but played well. We were a bit too open against a side as good as they are; some brilliant technical play at times."

Pardew also left Andros Townsend out of his starting lineup against Liverpool, and he revealed after the match that the decision was down to the player's request to move from the left wing to the right.

"[Townsend] wants to play on the right-hand side. Wilf [Zaha] was terrific, it's a tough decision. We're missing [Pape] Souare on the left. I'm not going to say it isn't a problem," he added.

Palace now sit 12th in the Premier League table, just four points adrift of the bottom three.