Anyone wanting a neat summary of Liverpool’s tortuous season need only watch what happened in the 29th minute here.
Selhurst Park waited with bated breath when, after persistence from Diogo Jota had earned the visitors a free-kick on the edge of the area, Mohamed Salah rolled the ball into the path of Trent Alexander-Arnold.
The right-back then arrowed a shot that looked destined to zip beyond Crystal Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita into the top corner – until it struck Jordan Henderson on the head and was diverted away from goal.
