Crystal Palace v Liverpool: Live matchday blog
Roberto Firmino netted a late winner to give Liverpool another vital victory with a 2-1 success over Crystal Palace. The Brazilian struck after Wilfried Zaha had cancelled out Sadio Mane's opener in a hard-fought contest at Selhurst Park.
Jürgen's verdict
Jürgen Klopp offered his assessment of Liverpool's 2-1 win at Crystal Palace during his post-match press conference at Selhurst Park.
You can read what the manager had to say in full by clicking here.
Mohamed Salah fitness latest
Jürgen Klopp offered an update on the fitness of Mohamed Salah after the game, with the Egyptian remaining an unused substitute at Selhurst Park.
He said: “Mo is all good. He couldn't train for nine days; he was with the Egyptian national team, went home and trained kind of 60 or 70 per cent the day before yesterday.
“Yesterday was the first time 100 per cent, so we had then to make the decision of whether we started him or not.
“We didn't start him, we wanted to bring him on as you probably saw but then we scored. So, we could rest him today, that’s really good and Wednesday he will be back."
And here's how the top of the table is looking...
How it all unfolded, through the eyes of Opta stats...
Full Time
Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool
The Reds do it yet again as they leave it late to secure another three points.
After James Tomkins had a goal chalked off by VAR at the end of the first half for Crystal Palace, Sadio Mane hooked the visitors into an early second-half lead.
However, Wilfried Zaha levelled with six minutes of normal time remaining.
But, Liverpool won it when Roberto Firmino lashed in a loose ball at a corner soon after to maintain their eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.
Mane plays in Wijnaldum, whose strike towards the near post is kept out by Guaita.
Chance
Townsend plays a ball from a cleared corner back into the area, where Zaha collects unmarked but blasts over the bar.
Five minutes of added time to be played...
Substitution
Joe Gomez replaces Roberto Firmino now.
Mohamed Salah was stripped and ready to come on, but Firmino's goal changed Klopp's mind.
Goal
GOAL!!!! ROBERTO FIRMINO!!!!!!!!!
Liverpool re-take the lead nearly instantly.
A corner is met on the half-volley by Van Dijk, but it clatters into a defender.
But the ball breaks for Firmino, who swipes home from close range.
Get in!
Goal
Goal for Crystal Palace - Wilfried Zaha
The home team are level as they hit Liverpool with a speedy break that results in Zaha finding space to beat Alisson with a low shot across goal.
1-1 at Selhurst Park.
Substitution
Jordan Henderson is replaced by James Milner for the final knockings here.
Benteke's spectacular overhead kick - similar to a goal he scored for the Reds against Manchester United - flashes wide of the upright.
Substitution
Another former Anfield man, Benteke, comes on for Ayew for Palace.
Alisson needs to touch Schlupp's low fizzer wide.
Substitution
Kouyate now makes way for Schlupp for Palace.
Substitution
Ward can't shake off a knock for the Eagles, so he is replaced by ex-Red Martin Kelly.
Chance!
Firmino goes through on goal but a brilliant save from Guaita pushes his prod wide of the post.
Substitution
Oxlade-Chamberlain makes way for Origi for the visitors.
Chance!
Lovren is inches away from turning a corner over the line at the back post. He just can't quite reach it, however.
Audacious effort from Milivojevic from distance, but it's straight at Alisson.
Yellow Card
Fabinho is booked for a challenge on Kouyate.
It means he'll serve a one-match ban against Brighton next weekend.
Stat
Since the start of last season, no player has provided more Premier League assists than Andrew Robertson (16 - level with Ryan Fraser).
Townsend takes aim and it needs Alisson to tip it over the bar.
Goal
GOAL! SADIO MANE!!!
Mane doesn't miss this time.
He controls Robertson's bouncing centre on his knee, swivles and hooks a shot into the corner, which comes off the post before bouncing over the line.
The European champions lead 1-0.
Chance!
Big chance.
Liverpool hit Palace on the counter and Henderson sends Mane speeding into space, but he side-foots wide with the 'keeper to beat.
Kick-Off
Back under way...
Liverpool re-start the game at Selhurst Park.
Here's how Opta saw the first half...
Half Time
Crystal Palace 0-0 Liverpool
It remains goalless at the break at Selhurst Park after James Tomkins' header was ruled out by VAR just before the interval.
Firmino heads over at the near post from an Alexander-Arnold corner.
Disallowed Goal
VAR rules out Tomkins goal
James Tomkins thinks he has headed Palace into the lead from a free-kick, but VAR rules it out.
We think, for a push by Ayew on Lovren while the ball was played into the area.
Another let-off for Liverpool and it remains goalless.
Chance
Van Dijk heads down from a corner and Firmino gets a toe to it, but Guaita is able to repel with his gloves.
Match shot
Lovren makes a vital tackle to stop Ayew from shooting inside the box.
Now Fabinho hoists a ball over the top for Mane's run, but it just rolls for Guaita before the Reds forward can get it under control.
Chance
Palace spur a good opportunity to take the lead.
Alexander-Arnold's wayward crossfield pass is picked up by Townsend, who lays it off for Kouyate. His delivery finds Ayew unmarked in the centre of the box with only Alisson in front of him, but he - thankfully - nudges wide of the post.
A bit of a let-off, there.
Alexander-Arnold needs to block an effort from Zaha as Palace's threat begins to increase.
Milivojevic scuffs a half-volley towards Alisson's goal, but it's an easy take for the Reds' 'keeper
Brilliant play to open up Palace, but Mane's shot from Alexander-Arnold's low delivery is denied by a fine block from Milivojevic.
Oxlade-Chamberlain works some space for a shot on the edge of the box, but it's well blocked by Cahill.
Alexander-Arnold's corner is booted to safety at the near post by Kouyate.
Van Dijk's long ball over the top almost sends Mane clean through on goal, but Guaita is off his line quickly to head away from outside the box.
Kick-Off
And we're off...
Crystal Palace start the game at Selhurst Park.
Come on you Reds!
Here come the teams...
Inside the away dressing room...
Afternoon, lads...
Liverpool arrive at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace: Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, Van Aanholt, Milivojevic, Kouyate, McArthur, Townsend, Zaha, Ayew.
Subs: Hennessey, Dann, Schlupp, Benteke, McCarthy, Kelly, Meyer.
TEAM NEWS
The teamsheet is in and confirms Andy Robertson is fit to start at Selhurst Park, but Mohamed Salah is on the substitutes’ bench.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces him in the only change made to the team deployed against Manchester City last time out.
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Lovren, Van Dijk, Robertson, Fabinho, Wijnaldum, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mane, Firmino.
Subs: Adrian, Milner, Keita, Salah, Gomez, Lallana, Origi.
Dejan on duty
Lovren takes care of the pre-match media duties at Selhurst Park.
Weather
***WEATHER LATEST***
Greetings from Croydon.
It's grey and dreary in south London, with light drizzle knocking around,
Thankfully, though, it's not too cold, with the temperature around the 11-degree mark.
Liverpoolfc.com scribe Glenn Price's description as 'balmy' is a little off the mark, however.
We recommend you don your finest winter garbs to protect from the elements.
'At Selhurst we have ended unbeaten runs many, many times'
Luka Milivojevic has used his column in today's matchday programme to instil hope in the home supporters that Crystal Palace can hand Liverpool their first Premier League defeat of the season.
The Palace skipper writes: "We need to take our chances today as they may not come as often as were are used to. We respect them and know they're unbeaten in the Premier League for a long time, but we respect all teams and this run doesn't change the way we approach the 90 minutes.
"This Liverpool team is one we know keep a lot of the same players and the same manager during the last three seasons, and they have improved.
"We know their strengths, but that means we also know their weaknesses and how to hurt them. At Selhurst we have ended unbeaten runs many, many times and I believe we have the quality to do so today."
'We're not thinking about the table'
So insists Dejan Lovren, who spoke to us this week about why Liverpool's focus must always be on their next opponent, not their pursuit of the Premier League title.
"It is easy always to say 'keep the momentum' but it is really hard work on and off the pitch to do that," said the defender.
"You will look on TV and see the [points] gap and maybe that's the only thing you will see, but on the pitch we don't think about it. It is just about winning games, game by game.
"We don't think about what will happen in two or three months' time, we are really 100 per cent focused for the next game against Crystal Palace. That's our work, that's how we should do it."
Did you know?
Sadio Mane has scored seven goals in his 10 career matches against Crystal Palace - more than he has managed past any other side.
Tale of the tape
Compare the numbers behind each team's Premier League season so far...
Live coverage details
Today's match will not be shown live on television in the UK, but 90 seconds of action then extended highlights will be available on LFCTV GO from 7pm GMT and midnight respectively.
You can listen to the game live with our free live audio commentary service and follow the action as it happens with us right here or with the live blog on the official app.
For Reds fans outside of the UK, global TV listings for the game can be found here.
The lay of the land
In case you needed a reminder, here's how we fare in the Premier League standings ahead of matchweek 13...
Team news
We'll have confirmed line-ups at 2pm GMT, but here's what we know already...
Virgil van Dijk is fit to feature this afternoon despite missing the Netherlands' most recent fixture earlier this week.
However, Liverpool are continuing to monitor the fitness of Mohamed Salah, Andy Robertson and Joel Matip after the international break.
"It's always how it is with the first game after the international [break], we have to wait until the last second pretty much to make the decision," Klopp said.
Palace are boosted by the availability of Wilfried Zaha and Joel Ward, with Hodgson able to call upon a fully-fit squad today.
'They've got the ability and technique and talent'
Roy Hodgson has detailed the defensive duties his Crystal Palace side will have to perform this afternoon in order to keep Liverpool's much-admired attack quiet.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Friday, Hodgson said: "There are a lot of things that are key to stopping them.
"First of all, we've got to make certain that we restrict the space their front three players are so good at using and so good at finding. We've got to defend well in the wide areas because in the wide areas they've got good combinations and full-backs who are very attack-minded.
"We've got to make certain that our defending in and around the penalty box is very good because we know that, when chances come their way, they've got the ability and technique and talent to take those chances.
"Then, of course, we've got to be aware of the fact that they're a very energetic team. They have a very high, pressing culture that when the ball is lost, all the players close to the ball work very, very hard to win it back."
Stat attack
- In the game immediately following international breaks Liverpool are unbeaten in the last nine, with seven wins and two draws. Four of those victories and a draw have come away from home.
- The Reds go into this game having accumulated twice as many points or more than every other team outside of the Premier League top four.
- In 20 Premier League clashes with the Eagles there have been 72 goals scored at an average of 3.6 goals per game, with Liverpool scoring in all but two of the meetings.
- Roberto Firmino's next top-flight appearance will be his 150th for the Reds in the Premier League.
Palace meetings
Check out the highlights from last season's two matches with Palace...
Inside Training
Liverpool continued their preparations for today's game by performing a training session at Melwood on Thursday evening.
We were granted exclusive access to the session and produced the following photo gallery and LFCTV GO video...
Missing Men
Liverpool kicked off their 1994-95 league campaign with a 6-1 victory at Crystal Palace, but can you remember our starting XI from that August clash?
Steve McManaman and Ian Rush each scored a brace for the Reds - and find out which other players started by clicking the graphic below...
Last time out
What a performance. Before departing for the November international break, the Reds went nine points clear of reigning champions Manchester City with a brilliant 3-1 win at Anfield. Relive it in the video below...
Klopp's preview
The boss previewed today's encounter by taking questions from journalists at Melwood yesterday morning. You can see all he had to say during his press conference in the video below...
Good morning!
That felt like a long wait, didn't it? We're back in action after the international break as we head to Selhurst Park for a Premier League encounter with Crystal Palace.
Stay here throughout the day for the best of the build-up, action and post-match reaction.
