Woeful Liverpool suffer more pain at Palace

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times)  Liverpool suffered more Selhurst Park misery as struggling Crystal Palace came from behind to clinch a shock 3-1 win over the lacklustre Reds on Sunday.

Brendan Rodgers' side saw their hopes of winning the Premier League title effectively ended when they conceded three late goals in a 3-3 draw at Palace last season and they fared even worse on their first return to south London since that painful experience. Rickie Lambert had given Liverpool an early lead with his first goal since his pre-season move from Southampton.

But Neil Warnock's team hit back through Dwight Gayle's first half equaliser and Joe Ledley put Palace in front with 12 minutes remaining before Australia midfielder Mile Jedinak's brilliant free-kick sealed the points moments later.

Liverpool, disjointed going forward and careless in defence, could have few complaints about a dismal result that left them without a win in four league matches and with only one victory in their last seven games in all competitions.

The Reds are languishing in 12th place, only four points above the relegation zone and two points ahead of Palace, who climbed out of the bottom three with their first win since late September.

Liverpool's last visit to Selhurst had been filled with tears and torment, but this was a much more alarming performance that suggested they won't have to worry about holding their nerve in the title race for this season at least.

Lambert and Adam Lallana had been at Southampton together when Liverpool fell apart at Palace last season and, unaffected by any psychological scars, they combined to give Liverpool the perfect start in the second minute. Lallana spotted Lambert's run in behind Palace defender Martin Kelly and picked him out with a slide-rule pass that the England striker controlled with one touch before flicking a clinical finish past Palace goalkeeper Julian Speroni.

That should have been the signal for Liverpool to take complete control, yet they allowed Palace to regain a foothold and, in the process, exposed a shaky defence which had only kept two clean sheets this season.

Palace refused to be rattled by Lambert's opening salvo and drew level in the 17th minute thanks to a predatory finish from one of their main tormentors last season.