Palace stage another late comeback to beat Liverpool

Crystal Palace staged a sensational comeback to heap more misery on Liverpool and secure a 3-1 win at Selhurst Park.

The Eagles looked up against it when they fell behind inside 90 seconds as Rickie Lambert struck his first goal for the Merseysiders.

But Dwight Gayle, who all-but ended the Reds' title hopes with a brace in last season's infamous 3-3 draw, came back to haunt Brendan Rodgers' side with a close-range finish after Yannick Bolasie had hit the post on 17 minutes.

Lambert went close to restoring the visitors' lead with two headers while Javi Manquillo wasted a glorious chance before the hosts edged ahead 12 minutes from time. The impressive Bolasie switched to the right flank and carved Liverpool open, laying a cut back into the path of Joe Ledley who coolly fired home from eight yards.

The visitors were all at sea at this point and conceded again just two minutes later when Mile Jedinak curled a sensational 25-yard free kick into the top corner to leave the Merseysiders with an acute sense of deja vu following their late capitulation at Selhurst Park last season.

The result sees the Eagles move two points clear of the bottom three with a first victory since September, while Liverpool have now lost four matches on the spin in all competitions and have much work to do to turn around their season.

PRE-MATCH - Lambert starts: As expected, no Mario Balotelli (groin injury) for Liverpool which means a rare chance for Rickie Lambert to ignite his Reds career. Glen Johnson starts at left back with Alberto Moreno on the bench. Brendan Rodgers is also without Jordan Henderson through illness. Palace welcome back captain Mile Jedinak from suspension while Dwight Gayle, who all-but ended Liverpool's title hopes with a double in the 3-3 draw last season, earns a start in attack alongside Marouane Chamakh. Former Reds defender, Martin Kelly faces his old club.

2' - GOAL!PALACE 0-1 LIVERPOOL. The away side lead and it's Lambert who gets it inside 90 seconds! Lallana floats a lovely pass in-behind the Palace defence for his former Southampton teammate, who takes a great first touch and slots into the corner.

17' - GOAL!PALACE 1-1 LIVERPOOL. Palace are level and it's that man Gayle once again. He is the scourge of Liverpool. Bolasie sees a 25-yarder crash back off the post but Gayle is on hand to gobble up the rebound.

28' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Gerrard curves a sublime free kick onto the head of Lambert who can't adjust his body to get the right connection on it to direct the ball on target. He should have done better.

30' - FINE SAVE! Mignolet's poor kick leads to a Palace chance, but the keeper redeems himself with a dive to his left to concede a corner from Bolasie's low drive.

34' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Allen jinks down the left, cuts inside and floats a lovely ball to the back post for Lambert who heads wide. That was another good opportunity for the striker.

43' - PALACE CHANCE! Great block! Manquillo denies Palace as Bolasie leads the counter attack, exchanges a cute one-two with Gayle before seeing his shot diverted away by the Spaniard's last-ditch challenge.

57' - LIVERPOOL CHANCE! Speroni makes a meal of trying to punch clear a corner and it drops for Skrtel at the far post, but the defender lashes his attempt back across goal and a couple of yards wide.

70' - END-TO-END! So close! Johnson fires a low cross into the area that Speroni spills but Palace hack it clear under real pressure from Lambert. The hosts break but Puncheon's low cross is brilliantly claimed by Mignolet. End to end stuff.

71' - CLOSE! Chance for Manquillo... but he flashes it wide after great work by Coutinho to tee him up.

78' - GOAL!PALACE 2-1 LIVERPOOL. Palace lead! Ledley slots home his first of the season as he coolly steers into the net following Bolasie's wonderful run and cross from the right.

81' -GOAL!PALACE 3-1 LIVERPOOL. It's all over as a stunning 25-yard free kick from Jedinak arrows over the wall and into the top corner. More Selhurst Park woe for Liverpool.

Dwight Gayle has scored four goals in three Premier League appearances against Liverpool.

Liverpool have conceded 21 goals in their last 10 Premier League away matches, keeping just one clean sheet in that run.

Liverpool have now won just two of their last nine Premier League matches (W2, D2, L5).

The Reds have lost four games in a row.

Only in one Premier League season (1992-93, 13 points) have Liverpool had fewer points after 12 games than they do this season, with a current total of 14.

Neil Warnock wins his first ever league match as a manager against the Reds.

(Stats courtesy of Opta and Infostrada)

TALKING POINT. Liverpool are in crisis. The Reds are completely unrecognisable from the team that put so many teams to the sword with a swaggering style of football that had many neutrals purring last season. The sale of Luis Suarez was always going to be a blow, as is the continued injury anguish of Daniel Sturridge, but there appears to be a deeper problem. The new-look defence buckles under any form of pressure and with a toothless attack failing to ignite, it makes them all-too easy to beat. There is no fight in the side at present and the top four looks a long, long way away. Rodgers has already spoken of how this is his most testing time in management and this result will only add fire for those questioning whether last season was a flash in the pan.

Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace). A constant menace. The winger had a hand in two goals and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet himself.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Speroni 7, Kelly 6, Delaney 6, Dann 7, Ward 7, Jedinak 8, Ledley 7, Bolasie 8, Puncheon 7, Chamakh 7, Gayle 7. Subs: Hangeland 7, McArthur 6, Bannan n/a.

LIVERPOOL: Mignolet 5, Manquillo 6, Skrtel 4, Lovren 5, Johnson 5, Allen 6, Gerrard 5, Lallana 6, Coutinho 6, Sterling 5, Lambert 6. Subs: Can 5, Borini 5.