NEW DELHI: Liverpool secured a dramatic 2-1 victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday, propelling them to the top of the Premier League.
Mohamed Salah's milestone 200th goal for Liverpool and Harvey Elliott's last-minute winner played crucial roles in the thrilling comeback at Selhurst Park.
Initially trailing to Jean-Philippe Mateta's penalty in the second half, Liverpool faced the prospect of a damaging defeat in the title race. However, Jordan Ayew's 75th-minute red card for Palace tilted the momentum in Liverpool's favour.
Salah, reaching his 200th goal for Liverpool and 150th in the Premier League, became the fifth player to achieve the milestone for the club. His 247th Premier League appearance also placed him in the top 10 all-time scorers list, level with Michael Owen.
Despite Salah's landmark goal, Liverpool needed a late surge to avoid a disappointing result. Young midfielder Harvey Elliott, coming off the bench, sealed the points with a last-gasp winner in stoppage time.
The victory, marking Liverpool's third successive league win, pushed them one point above second-placed Arsenal, setting the stage for a crucial period ahead with upcoming matches against Manchester United and Arsenal.
Jurgen Klopp's side faced initial struggles in wet and windy conditions, with Palace threatening to take the lead early on. However, Liverpool's luck held as Palace's penalty decision was overturned after VAR intervention.
Palace eventually went ahead in the 57th minute through Mateta's penalty, leaving Liverpool frustrated. However, Ayew's red card turned the tide, and Salah's deflected shot brought the visitors level within a minute.
Elliott's stunning strike in the first minute of stoppage time secured the comeback victory for Liverpool, ensuring they enter the Christmas period as the league leaders.
Liverpool's manager, Jurgen Klopp, had expressed displeasure about the early kick-off time but would be satisfied with the result, setting the stage for a challenging yet promising phase in the title race.
(With inputs from AFP)
