Liverpool 1-2 Crystal Palace: Yannick Bolasie and Scott Dann inflict Jurgen Klopp's first defeat

By Jack Wilkinson

Monday 9 November 2015 15:22, UK

Crystal Palace inflicted the first defeat of the Jurgen Klopp era with a 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

Goals in either half from Yannick Bolasie (21) and Scott Dann (82) sealed Alan Pardew's side all three points from this fixture for the second successive season, following their 3-1 triumph in the penultimate game of last term.

Philippe Coutinho's 42nd-minute equaliser dragged Liverpool back into contention in an entertaining game on Merseyside, but the hosts were made to paid for their profligacy in front of goal, as well as a number of defensive errors.

The result sees Palace climb to eighth in the Premier League table while Liverpool, whose 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions came to an end, drop a place to 10th.

Palace travelled to Merseyside unbeaten in their last three league encounters with Liverpool and, with former Reds captain Steven Gerrard in attendance, they looked to continue from where they had left off on their last trip to Anfield, making a blistering start in rain-soaked conditions.

Pardew's attacking formation looked to have the desired effect from the outset as Bolasie and Wilfried Zaha tormented a Liverpool rearguard which afforded their opponents the ball far too often in the final third.

It was a series of defensive lapses that led to Palace's opener midway through the half. Alberto Moreno's feeble challenge allowed Bakary Sako to find Zaha on the right, before his cross was inexcusably cushioned into the path of Bolasie by Emre Can.

The DR Congo international was then allowed to take a touch before turning and rifling the ball beyond Simon Mignolet in front of the Kop.

Falling behind, however, kicked Liverpool into gear, with Palace limited to hitting the hosts on the break.

Coutinho and Christian Benteke were quick to have efforts on goal as the hosts sought an instant response, but their attempts were either blocked or saved.

Benteke then spurned a gilt-edged chance to restore parity on 32 minutes, striking Adam Lallana's low cross against his own leg instead of into the back of the net from close range.

The travelling Palace support thought their side had doubled their advantage six minutes later when Sako turned the ball beyond Mignolet, but the offside flag came to Liverpool's rescue.

After defender Mamadou Sakho was forced off by injury on 40 minutes, the Reds were soon level as Lallana's flick and Benteke's dummy of Nathaniel Clyne's cross set up Coutinho for the equaliser shortly before the interval.

The end-to-end nature of the first half continued into the second, with both sides exchanging blows in search of a second.

Shortly after the hour mark, Sako's near-post drive nestled in the side-netting, before Benteke headed Moreno's cross over the bar at the other end with the goal gaping.

Jason Puncheon's long-range drive on 73 minutes drew Mignolet into a fine save before Liverpool had claims for a penalty waved away after Lallana's goal-bound volley struck Dann in the area.

And, with eight minutes to play, Dann earned his side the victory, capitalising on a defensive mismatch to out-muscle Roberto Firmino before heading home the rebound from his initial saved effort on goal.

Player ratings

Liverpool: Mignolet (6), Clyne (7), Skrtel (7), Sakho (5), Moreno (6), Can (6), Lucas (6), Ibe (8), Coutinho (7), Lallana (7), Benteke (6).

Subs used: Lovren (6), Firmino (5), Origi (5).

Crystal Palace: Hennessey (8), Kelly (6), Dann (8), Delaney (7), Souare (7), Cabaye (7), McArthur (6), Zaha (7), Puncheon (6), Bolasie (8), Sako (6).

Subs used: Wickham (6), Mutch (5), Ledley (5).

Man of the match: Jordon Ibe