Liverpool’s chances of a top four finish at the end of the season took a major blow as Crystal Palace won at Anfield.

The Reds had seen Manchester United win in the earlier game and they knew a victory is a requirement to keep a safe distance from United and Manchester City. Liverpool did start brightly as Philippe Coutinho scored a sumptuous free kick but Palace hit back with old boy Christian Benteke scoring before half time.

Things got worse in the second half when Benteke nodded in from a corner and the Eagles held on to make it three wins in a row at Anfield and also registered Sam Allardyce’s first win as a manager at the stadium.

Jurgen Klopp looked unimpressed at the final whistle and the loss puts more pressure on a team that cannot keep a clean sheet or defeat a club in the bottom half of the league.

Twitter went crazy as the Reds now prepare for a tough end to the season.

Opta: Christian Benteke has now scored more Premier League goals at Anfield as a visiting player (5), than he did as a Liverpool player (4)

— Kaveh Solhekol (@SkyKaveh) April 23, 2017

Depression and Liverpool, name a more iconic duo, I’ll wait. #deathneeded

— Rhys (@LallanaLad) April 23, 2017

Liverpool have lost against 6 of the 7 teams ranked 12th to 18th in the #PremierLeague this term. Tale of the season. #lfc #livcry #cpfc pic.twitter.com/035USclqDM

— Simon Gleave (@SimonGleave) April 23, 2017

Also, I wouldn’t have minded if Sakho had smiled when Palace scored. But the 60-second “handshake” crap, at Anfield, was disrespectful.

— Paul Tomkins (@paul_tomkins) April 23, 2017

All 6 Liverpool defeats were against teams from the bottom half of the table.
That must be unprecedented. #LFC

— Michael Yokhin (@Yokhin) April 23, 2017

“Hi, yeah I’ll have wins over Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal please.

Oh, and a battered sausage.” pic.twitter.com/qF10QzTiad

— UNILAD Football (@UNILADFooty) April 23, 2017

Dear @LFC

Your own centre half celebrating you getting beat.That’s the Liverpool effevt that…..#LFC pic.twitter.com/QRsyfs7401

— ZippyPenguin (@Zippy_Penguin) April 23, 2017

Liverpool and Arsenal. The Europa League bros.

— Garstonite (@bririley70) April 23, 2017

That Benteke looks good. Wouldn’t be surprised if a big club like Liverpool try to sign him in the summer

— Adrian Goldberg (@GoldbergHome) April 23, 2017

Christian Benteke at Anfield:

Playing for Liverpool: 4 goals in 13 PL apps

Playing against Liverpool: 5 goals in 3 PL apps pic.twitter.com/pSLE5RfTd3

— SPORF (@Sporf) April 23, 2017

If Liverpool do anything, they do it the hard way.

— Jimmy (@EntireDesign_) April 23, 2017

Huge fan of Liverpool player celebrating beating Liverpool and boiling piss. HUGE fan. pic.twitter.com/DAvwdjA9OO

— King (@MiraIIas) April 23, 2017