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
