Liverpool’s Premier League title hopes suffered a huge blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Eberechi Eze converted from Tyrick Mitchell’s cut-back to finish off a flowing Palace move early on and the visitors were deservedly in front at the break.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds ramped up the pressure in the second half but, just as in recent games against Manchester United and Atalanta, their finishing let them down as they fell to a first league loss at home since October 2022.
Defeat leaves Liverpool two points behind leaders Manchester City and level on points with Arsenal before the Gunners’ game against Aston Villa later on Sunday
Palace started brightly and led through Eze’s well-worked opener, before a slip from Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk gave Jean-Philippe Mateta a golden opportunity to double their lead.
The striker was clean through and lifted his effort past the returning Alisson Becker but Andy Robertson sprinted back to hook the ball off the line.
Liverpool rallied and Wataru Endo struck the bar after Palace failed to deal with a corner before Dean Henderson made a fine reaction save to deny Luis Diaz.
Oliver Glasner’s Palace retained a threat on the counter-attack until the break but were largely penned inside their own half in the second 45 minutes.
The Reds are now left to reflect on a potentially decisive loss with just six matches remaining in the league campaign.
Nightmare week leaves Reds’ season on brink
Liverpool headed into last Sunday’s match at Old Trafford two points clear at the top of the table and favourites to win the Europa League.
A week on and both trophies appear to be slipping out of their grasp.
With six league games and a Europa League quarter-final second leg still to play, all is not lost but if Liverpool are to deliver a fairytale ending to Klopp’s time in charge, they will have to be perfect from here
A first league win since Glasner’s first game in charge at the end of February was one to savour, with more than enough to tantalise Palace fans about what the future may hold under the Austrian.
EPL: Palace Dents Liverpool’s Premier League Title Hopes
