Christian Benteke stars as Crystal Palace stun Liverpool at Anfield
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ByEurosport
Updated 23/04/2017 at 19:31 GMT
Premier League, Anfield – Liverpool 1 (Coutinho 24’) Crystal Palace 2 (Benteke 42’ 74’)
Crystal Palace's Christian Benteke celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates
Image credit: Reuters
Christian Benteke scored twice against his former club as Crystal Palace put a huge dent in Liverpool’s top-four hopes courtesy of a 2-1 win at Anfield.
The Belgian, who moved from Merseyside to south London last summer, proved too much for Liverpool’s defence to handle in the box, scoring a goal in each half to dent his old club’s Champions League qualification hopes.
Philippe Coutinho opened the scoring mid-way through the first-half in majestic fashion when he curled a free-kick into the top corner from 25 yards giving Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey no chance.
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Liverpool's Brazilian midfielder Philippe Coutinho (L) celebrates with Liverpool's English midfielder James Milner after scoring during the English Premier League football match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engl
Image credit: Getty Images
But after coming close to breaking the deadlock earlier in the game, former Red Benteke levelled the scores on the stroke of half-time when he stabbed home at the back post from Yohan Cabaye’s cross before celebrating with Liverpool loanee Mamadou Sakho on the sideline.
That goal took all momentum away from Liverpool and barring another Coutinho opportunity, the hosts struggled to create anything of any real note in the second period.
Palace turned the screw with 20 minutes to play as Cabaye volleyed over from close range, only minutes before Benteke’s stooping header won the game for Sam Allardyce’s side.
The Eagles, who have now won on their last three visits to Anfield, move up to 12th and are now seven points above the drop zone with only five games to play.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s unbeaten run of seven games is now over and while they remain third, the Reds are only three points above fifth-placed Manchester United who have two games in hand over their rivals.
TALKING POINT
Inspirational Benteke comes back to haunt Klopp – As the Belgian wheeled away in celebration after scoring his second of the game, the Liverpool coach may have wondered why he ever sold the forward in the first place. He may also ponder the reasons why he insists on playing the woeful Dejan Lovren whose defensive vulnerabilities were highlighted once again. While the result almost certainly guarantees Palace's top-flight status next season, it raises questions over Liverpool's top-four credentials.
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Christian Benteke and Mamadou Sakho celebrate as Crystal Palace beat Liverpool
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) – The 26-year-old has now scored more Premier League goals at Anfield as a visiting player having netted five times at the famous ground.
PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool: Mignolet 5, Clyne 5, Matip 5, Lovren 4, Milner 5, Lucas 5, Can 5, Wijnaldum 6, Coutinho 8, Firmino 6, Origi 5. Subs: Grujic 5, Moreno 5.
Crystal Palace: Hennessey 7, Ward 7, Tomkins 7, Kelly 6, Schlupp 6, Milivojevic 6, Cabaye 7, Puncheon 7, Zaha 7, Townsend 7, Benteke 8. Subs: Van Aanholt 5, Delaney 5, Campbell N/A.
KEY MOMENTS
21’ - INCHES WIDE! Benteke gets away too easily from Lucas before wriggling past another couple of challenges and drilling the ball just wide of Liverpool's right-hand post. So close to a goal on his return to Anfield.
24’ - GOAL - Coutinho curls the ball into the corner of the Palace goal to give Liverpool the lead from a free-kick, 25 yards out. Hennessey stood no chance of saving that majestic effort.
51’ - SO CLOSE! Palace deny Coutinho a second sensational goal as he skips past two or three challenges before seeing his shot from close range blocked by Tomkins.
71’ - CHANCE! Liverpool's defence is all over the place as they fail to adequately clear the ball, it comes back to Cabaye who volleys over the bar from inside the penalty area. That was a great chance for Palace.
74’ - GOAL - it's Benteke again! Firmino misses the corner delivery at the near post and the Belgian is there to capitalise with a stooping header to give Palace a crucial lead with little over 15 minutes to play!
KEY STATS
- Christian Benteke has scored five goals in his previous three Premier League games at Anfield as an opposition player.
- No Premier League side has conceded more direct free-kick goals this season than Crystal Palace (three).
- Sam Allardyce has won his first Premier League match at Anfield as a manager, in what was his 14th attempt.
- Crystal Palace are the first team to win on three consecutive Premier League trips to Anfield since Chelsea in October 2005.
- Lucas Leiva has not scored in his last 201 Premier League appearances - 50 different players have scored for Liverpool since his last goal, in May 2009.
- Philippe Coutinho scores his 10th Premier League goal of the season - four have been from outside the penalty area, joint most with Ibrahimovic and Shaqiri.
MATCH IN A TWEET
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