Liverpool 0-1 Crystal Palace: Player Ratings

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Liverpool's wastefulness comes back to bite them yet again as they suffer a potentially season-defining defeat to Crystal Palace.

After a lethargic start, the Reds found themselves once again trailing within 15 minutes, with Ebereche Eze gifted acres of space in the Liverpool box to tap in a simple opener.

It then nearly got so much worse for the hosts - Virgil van Dijk, in a style not dissimilar from a former Liverpool captain, slipped on halfway to let Jean-Philippe Mateta in on goal, only for Andy Robertson to come to the rescue with a heroic sliding goal-line clearance.

While marginally improving as the first half continued, Jurgen Klopp's side were unable to cancel out Palace's lead before the break.

In the second half, Liverpool had a handful of golden opportunities to level the game, which would have given them the platform to search for a winner.

However, poor finishing would prove their downfall, as it did against Manchester United, making it two home defeats in two for the Reds at a pivotal time of the campaign

Liverpool's season looks to be unravelling, and just as it was 10 years ago, Crystal Palace may have just put a bullet in their title hopes. Here are your player ratings.

Alisson (GK): 7

Immediately called into action to deal with a Mitchell cross. Little he could do to deny Eze. Produced an unreal, Dudek vs Milan stop to keep the game alive.

Conor Bradley (RB): 5

Decent going forward but seriously overwhelmed at the back down the right hand side, getting passed around for Eze's opener. Injured just after the break and subbed.

Ibrahima Konate (CB): 5

Poor coordination at the back to give Eze so much space for the opener. Continued to look shaky at the back, losing his man far too often and giving away possession in dangerous areas.

Virgil van Dijk (CB): 4

Leaves acres of space for Eze to tap home the opener. The Reds captain was then spared a potentially legacy-defining blunder as he slipped (in a fashion far too familiar to Liverpool fans) to let Mateta in on goal - only to be saved by the last gasp goal-line clearance from Robertson.

Andy Robertson (LB): 7

Great driving run to create Liverpool's first decent chance of the game, bombing forward to open up space and start a move that ended with Nunez in on goal. Then saved Van Dijk from repeating history first written by Steven Gerrard, sprinting back to deny Mateta a simple goal after the Reds skipper slipped on halfway. Continued to act as the bright spark as Liverpool looked for parity, making that left flank their main source of joy alongside Diaz, peppering balls into the box and constantly looking to create. Tired slightly after the break.

Wataru Endo (DM): 5

Unlucky not to find the equaliser as his scrappy effort hit the underside of the bar. However, often slow to track back and wayward in possession. Subbed at the break.

Curtis Jones (CM): 3

Played through too often in the opening stages. Passing also had quite a lot to be desired - and it did for every player in red on the pitch. Missed an absolute sitter when Liverpool needed it most. Subbed.

Alexis Mac Allister (CM): 5

Distribution was uncharacteristically poor throughout the contest and appeared tired, being dispossessed far too often. Did well to win a free-kick in a very dangerous area but fired his effort into the wall.

Mohamed Salah (RW): 4

Well off the pace for much of the first half but did pop up with a shot here or there, testing Henderson with one trademark curled effort. Similarly poor for the remainder of the contest, struggled to comprehend the physics behind his miss late on.

Darwin Nunez (ST): 4

Snatched at a good opportunity within 10 minutes, shooting too early when in on goal. Final product, whether it was his shot or final pass, consistently off for remainder of the first-half. Should absolutely score from point-blank range after the restart, just blasts a volley straight at Henderson. Subbed.

Luis Diaz (LW): 6

Ball caught between his feet a bit early on but loosened up as the game continued. Became the driving force of creativity as Liverpool sought to find an equalise, and was unlucky not find said equaliser with an acrobatic effort. Tired after the break and subbed.

Substitutes

Dominik Szoboszlai (Endo, 46'): 5

Set up Jota for what should have been the equaliser. It wasn't. Otherwise lacklustre.

Trent Alexander-Arnold (Bradley, 48'): 5

Called into action earlier than he probably would've expected. Fired one far over the bar.

Diogo Jota (Nunez, 67'): 5

Somehow didn't get the equaliser, firing his effort into the body of former Liverpool man Clyne when the goal was gaping.

Cody Gakpo (Diaz, 67'): 6

Immediately involved as he fired one across the box, only for the inviting ball to be evaded by both Jones and Jota.

Harvey Elliott (Jones, 81'): 6

Couldn't repeat his heroics from the reverse fixture.

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