Manama, Jan. 23 (BNA) Liverpool reduced the lead at the top of the English Premier League to nine points, after beating Crystal Palace 3-1 on Sunday.
Virgil van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored in the first half, but Patrick Vieira’s team narrowed the difference through Odson Edward’s goal after the break.
It took a series of balls from Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker to keep the visitors ahead before Fabinho netted an 89th-minute penalty to seal the victory that capitalized on leaders Manchester City’s equalizer in Southampton on Saturday.
This was Liverpool’s fifth match without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane while they were in the Africa Cup of Nations.
Andrew Robertson’s corner kick created the opening goal for Van Dijk’s header in the eighth minute. It was a poor target for the hosts to let down and they couldn’t handle Liverpool’s constant pressure in the opening exchanges as Oxlade-Chamberlain fired twice in quick succession.
But then Robertson spotted Oxlade-Chamberlain’s late run into the area and picked his teammate with a superb cross. The midfielder, who came back after a minor ankle injury, controlled his chest and hit the net in the 32nd minute.
Jordan Henderson could have put a stop to the match early in the second half, but he fired away from the turn after another superb delivery from Robertson.
Palace finally got the net in the 55th minute. Jean-Philippe Mateta overcame the offside trap to score the perfect through ball for Jeffrey Schlupp and lead Edward to score his sixth goal of the season.
Joachim Andersen was the second to approach Palace with a long-range shot that went wide before Schlub fired into the side netting.
The defining moment came seven minutes before the end of the match when Anderson sent Michael Ulis away and Alisson sent his brilliantly high effort away through Alisson who hit the post.
Liverpool’s Diogo Jota went through minutes after that, but missed his kick and then collided with goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
After referee Kevin Friend overturned the appeal, the VAR called the responsible to take another look and pointed to the venue.
Fabinho missed a penalty one minute before the end of the game to close the gap with City, as Pep Guardiola’s side played a game more than Liverpool, who visit Al Ittihad in April.
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