FOOTBALL: SALAH'S 200TH LIVERPOOL GOAL INSPIRES FIGHTBACK TO BEAT PALACE

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Agency Report

On Saturday, Harvey Elliott’s dramatic last-gasp goal against Crystal Palace clinched a thrilling 2-1 victory that propelled Liverpool to the top of the Premier League. Mohamed Salah scored his 200th goal for the club.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s penalty gave Palace the lead at Selhurst Park in the second half, putting Jurgen Klopp’s team at risk of suffering a crushing loss in the race for the championship.

However, with fifteen minutes remaining, Palace’s Jordan Ayew was sent off, and Liverpool capitalised to erase a previously faltering performance with a furious finish.

Salah became the sixth player in history to record 200 goals for Liverpool across all competitions with his 14th goal this season, following Ian Rush (346), Roger Hunt (285), Gordon Hodgson (241), and Billy Liddell (228).

The Egyptian hero, who has played in the Premier League for 247 games, has scored 150 goals overall, two of which have come for Chelsea. This puts him on the top 10 list of all time, tied with Michael Owen.

Even with Salah’s historic performance, Liverpool would have been disappointed by a point, but in stoppage time, youthful midfielder Elliott sealed the victory.

Before the Gunners go to third-place Aston Villa later on Saturday, Liverpool moved one point clear of second-place Arsenal with their third straight league victory.

The Reds have a fantastic chance to solidify their title credentials going into the new year, with home games against Manchester United and Arsenal coming up before Christmas.

Klopp had called a television presenter “ignorant” for joking that the 1230 GMT Saturday kick-off was the German’s “favourite” time to play.

The Reds boss has made a habit of complaining about the schedule whenever Liverpool have a match in the early Saturday slot after playing the previous Wednesday.

– Liverpool leave it late –
Initially, it seemed Klopp’s dislike for the kick-off time would be renewed as Liverpool struggled to find any rhythm in wet and windy conditions in south London.

Liverpool were fortunate not to fall behind when Jefferson Lerma’s close-range effort forced a superb save from Alisson Becker, with the rebound hitting the post before it was hacked off the line by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Palace were awarded a penalty when Odsonne Edouard was bundled over Virgil van Dijk, but Will Hughes had clearly fouled Wataru Endo before passing to the forward.

Referee Andy Madley was told to consult the pitchside monitor and overturned his penalty decision.

For the first time in the league this season, Klopp’s side failed to muster a single shot on target in a dismal first-half display that ended fittingly with Alexander-Arnold misplacing a simple pass.

Palace deservedly took the lead in the 57th minute as Jarell Quansah’s challenge on Mateta was deemed worthy of a penalty after Madley checked the monitor.

To Klopp’s bewilderment, VAR only intervened to prompt the decision several moments after the foul.

Liverpool were furious but Mateta was unfazed, barely taking a run-up as he dispatched the spot-kick past Alisson with ease.

But luck was on Liverpool’s side as Palace forward Ayew was dismissed for a soft second booking in the 75th minute and within 60 seconds the visitors were level.

If the sending off had an element of good fortune for Liverpool, there was more to come as Cody Gakpo’s cross was only cleared to Salah, whose shot from 10 yards took a wicked deflection as it flashed past wrong-footed keeper Sam Johnstone.

Liverpool finally had some momentum and their late siege produced a winner in the first minute of stoppage time.

Elliott took possession 30 yards from goal and swerved away from his marker before unleashing a superb strike that beat Palace substitute keeper Remi Matthews at his near post.

In the final seconds, Alisson had to save from Joachim Andersen to preserve Liverpool’s hard-fought success.