Liverpool inexplicably threw away a three-goal lead in the final 12 minutes to draw 3-3 with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park tonight and hand the impetus in the Premier League title race firmly to Manchester City.
Joe Allen opened the scoring on 18 minutes with his first goal for the Reds, and Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez increased Liverpool's advantage before the hour mark.
The visitors saw their lead reduced by Damien Delaney's deflected 25-yard shot on 78 minutes and, as Liverpool continued to push forward, they were caught out by Yannick Bolasie's 60-yard break.
The winger squared for substitute Dwight Gayle to guide into the bottom corner, and the club-record signing completed the comeback on 88 minutes when he tucked the ball underneath Simon Mignolet.
The result took Brendan Rodgers's side back to the top of the table, one point above the Citizens, who have a game in hand and two home matches from which four points will secure them the championship.
Below, Sports Mole analyses whether the result was reflective of the action in London.
Match statistics
Palace
Shots: 10
On target: 6
Possession: 35%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 7
Liverpool
Shots: 26
On target: 9
Possession: 65%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 12
Was the result fair?
It seems incredibly harsh on Liverpool considering that they were in complete control for 78 minutes of the contest, but they paid for their naivety and poor defending, which has often gone unpunished this season. Palace deserve great credit for showing the character and composure in front of goal to come from three goals behind, so cannot be begrudged a point that they should never have had the chance to earn.
Liverpool's performance
For 78 minutes, this was an excellent Liverpool performance, with a couple of great Mignolet saves and a lightning start to the second half helping them to a three-goal cushion which should never have been surrendered. The naivety to think that chasing down Manchester City's goal difference would be relevant in the title race rather than take the three points on offer was staggering, and even after conceding one goal, they did not readjust their mentality or tactics. Defensive errors which have been masked by the goalscoring exploits of Suarez, Sturridge and company for most of the season were finally punished. A team with the joint-ninth best defensive record in the league is highly unlikely to win the title regardless of how many they are sticking away at the other end. Liverpool had the job done and were all set to take the championship race to the final day of the season before throwing it away in inexcusable fashion.
Palace's performance
There did seem to be signs of complacency in a first-half performance which did not quite have the organisation and solidarity associated with a Tony Pulis team. They were dangerous going forward, with the pace of Bolasie on the break always a threat. They looked like they could score goals against a Liverpool defence which had plenty of gaps in it, gaps which got bigger as the game went on and legs became tireder, stretched by Bolasie's pace and the fresh legs of Gayle. What may go unnoticed is how well Palace finished their chances, as they only really created three in the final 12 minutes and took all of them. Pulis deserves great credit for forming a side with the resilience to launch such a comeback.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Yannick Bolasie Lively but lacking control in the first 78 minutes, Bolasie appeared to be having another one of those games where he provided excitement, but no real substance. He really came alive in the final 10 minutes, though, and it was his pace which brought about the second goal, and then pushed Liverpool deeper and deeper as they prepared for the counter-attack. He was Palace's go-to man in the final stages as he, Gayle and his teammates produced one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history.
Biggest gaffe
Liverpool's defending for Palace's second goal was dreadful. Philippe Coutinho should have fouled Bolasie as the winger began his 60-yard sprint up the pitch. Glen Johnson then jumped in to try to tackle the Eagles man instead of jockeying him, and Jon Flanagan allowed Gayle too much space in the box to apply the finish. It was a series of mistakes which gave Palace the belief that they could get that crucial third.
Referee performance
Mark Clattenburg waved away two strong penalty appeals from Liverpool which seemed unlikely to be relevant to the result until the late shenanigans. Bolasie catching Johnson on his follow-through on seven minutes was a probable spot kick, and Scott Dann's blatant second-half block of Suarez certainly was.
What next?
Palace: The Eagles will be hoping to finish what has been a remarkable second half of the season when they travel across London to face already-relegated Fulham at Craven Cottage.
Liverpool: All eyes will be on Manchester City on Wednesday as they pray for Aston Villa to cause an upset, but victory over Newcastle United is imperative if they are to have a chance at the title.
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