23rd April, 2017
Photo: Daily Express
Christian Benteke came back to haunt his former club as Crystal Palace beat Liverpool at Anfield to take a giant stride towards Premier League survival and dent their opponents’ top-four aspirations.
Benteke scored in either half as Sam Allardyce’s Eagles mounted a brilliant fightback after Liverpool took the lead through Philippe Coutinho’s fine free-kick.
Liverpool sold Benteke to Palace last summer for £5m less than they paid for the Belgium striker a year earlier, but it was his burly presence in the final third that proved the difference in an entertaining contest.
His first was a well-taken strike high into the net from Yohan Cabaye’s low cross, his second a poacher’s header from six yards after some lax Liverpool defending at a corner.
Palace – who also earned a brilliant win at leaders Chelsea on 1 April – have now won six of their last eight league games to move on to 38 points, seven clear of danger and all but assured of another season of top-flight football.
Palace have now triumphed on their last three league visits to Anfield – the first team to achieve that feat since Chelsea in October 2005.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds stay in third place, but they have now played two games more than Manchester City in fourth place and fifth-place Manchester United, who are just two and three points back respectively.