Christian Benteke came off the bench to score a contentious 96th-minute winner from the penalty spot as 10-man Liverpool recovered to beat Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park this afternoon.

Joe Ledley had given the Eagles the lead early in the second half, but Roberto Firmino and Benteke secured the comeback despite James Milner being sent off to give Liverpool their first league win at Selhurst Park since 1997.

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The match started at a quick tempo, flowing from end to end, and moments after Liverpool had threatened with Firmino down the right channel, Palace had the first big chance of the game when Simon Mignolet bravely smothered Yannick Bolasie's effort at the winger's feet.

Mignolet was called into action again shortly afterwards when he turned Emmanuel Adebayor's effort away, but he had the woodwork to thank moments later when Adebayor's header from close range came back off the crossbar.

Neither side was able to gain a measure of control over the game in the opening half-hour, but the better sights of goal all fell the way of Palace, with Yohan Cabaye rippling the side-netting with a first-time effort in the 25th minute.

Cabaye turned provider for Palace's next half-chance as his free kick caught Damien Delaney by surprise at the back post, while Liverpool came close themselves moments later when Divock Origi's curling effort landed on the roof of the net.

Scott Dann then sent a looping header comfortably into the arms of Mignolet from another Cabaye free kick with what proved to be the last sight of goal in the first half, but it took the hosts just three minutes to break the deadlock after the restart.

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The goal stemmed from a corner as Liverpool failed to clear the danger on a number of occasions before Ledley drilled a loose ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The visitors' task got even harder shortly after the hour mark when Milner was shown a second yellow card for a cynical challenge on Wilfried Zaha, leaving his side with 10 men for the final 30 minutes.

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A first shot on target for Liverpool finally arrived in the 65th minute, but it was a simple one for Alex McCarthy to deal with as he gobbled up Firmino's long-range drive.

The Reds' first real chance of the whole match came shortly afterwards when Adam Lallana's cut-back was turned wide by Origi at the near post, but the visitors were soon to be gifted a way back into the contest.

Stand-in goalkeeper McCarthy, replacing the injured Wayne Hennessey in the side, was at fault as he slipped while clearing the ball, giving it straight to Firmino, who kept his composure to move into the box and slot it into the bottom corner.

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With time ticking by, Jurgen Klopp turned to Benteke ahead of Daniel Sturridge from his bench, and the Belgian almost made an immediate impact when he was denied by McCarthy just seconds after his introduction.

Liverpool came even closer to stealing all three points with just three minutes remaining, but Alberto Moreno's long-range strike thumped off the foot of the post with McCarthy beaten.

Benteke had another chance which was pushed away by McCarthy before the late drama, which saw the Belgian striker go down in the area after Delaney had committed himself to a challenge but then attempted to pull out.

Referee Andre Marriner took time to make his decision before controversially pointing to the spot, and Benteke coolly sent McCarthy the wrong way to clinch the win and leave Palace now 12 league games without a victory.

Liverpool, meanwhile, climb up to seventh in the table and are now just six points off the Champions League places.