Irresistible Liverpool overpower Crystal Palace to keep pace with leaders

Liverpool produced another vibrant attacking display to beat Crystal Palace 4-2 and keep pace at the top of the Premier League.

Jurgen Klopp's men stay third, but trail Manchester City and Arsenal on goal difference only, after a hugely entertaining win at Selhurst Park.

Emre Can, Dejan Lovren and Joel Matip all scored in a crazy first half, though Lovren was also culpable for a dreadful error leading to one of James McArthur's two first half headers.

Liverpool looked more solid defensively after the break, and with Philippe Coutinho pulling the strings they were always likely to add a fourth.

The clinching goal came when Roberto Firmino latched on to a Coutinho through ball and clipped the ball magnificently over Steve Mandanda.

Liverpool are now 11 games unbeaten in all competitions.

Liverpool can’t win the title defending like that. Yes, they scored four well worked goals but such sloppiness at the back won’t go unpunished by the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) - Pulled all the strings in a superb midfield display and could easily have added a couple of goals to his two assists.

CRYSTAL PALACE: Mandanda 6, Ward 5, Dann 5, Tomkins 6, Kelly 6, Cabaye 6, McArthur 7, Ledley 6, Lee 6, Zaha 7, Benteke 6. Subs: Townsend 6, Puncheon 6, Campbell 6.

LIVERPOOL: Karius 6, Clyne 6, Lovren 6, Matip 7, Moreno 7, Henderson 7, Can 7, Lallana 6, Coutinho 8, Mane 6, Firmino 7. Subs: Klavan 6, Wijnaldum 6, Origi 6.

16’ - GOAL! Crystal Palace 0-1 Liverpool: It seemed to be only a matter of time as Moreno feeds Can and he slots home.

18’ - GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-1 Liverpool: A horror show from Lovren who slices a clearance straight to James McArthur and he heads over a stranded Karius.

21’ - GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-2 Liverpool: Lovren makes amends for gifting his goal away by heading home direct from the corner.

33’ - GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-2 Liverpool: Zaha crosses into McArthur, who heads home his second. Lovren nowhere again.

44’ - GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-3 Liverpool: Joel Matip leaps high to head past Mandanda direct from the corner, who does well to get a glove on it. Free header, terrible marking.

71’ - GOAL! Crystal Palace 2-4 Liverpool: Firmino completes the rout, dinking a lovely finish over the advancing Mandanda from Henderson’s pass.

For the fourth time Liverpool have amassed at least 23 points from the opening 10 matches of a PL season, after 2008/09 (26), 2002/03 (24) and 1996/97 (23). They finished those campaigns second, fifth and fourth respectively.

James McArthur with his second Premier League brace after netting twice against Newcastle United on 28 November 2015.

Dejan Lovren has now as many Premier League goals this season (2) as in his previous three PL campaigns combined (2).

Liverpool have conceded at least one goal in each of their last 11 PL away matches, since the 6-0 win at Aston Villa on 14 February 2016. Only once before have they had a longer PL away run without a clean sheet (12 matches from February to September 1998).

Emre Can scored his third Premier League goal. He has scored one goal in each of his three Premier League seasons for Liverpool.

Crystal Palace have not kept a clean sheet in 15 successive PL matches, since the 0-0 home draw against Everton on 13 April 2016. Only once before have they had a longer PL run without a clean sheet (18 matches from December 1997 to May 1998).