Liverpool Lackadaisical As Gerrard Swansong Hijacked By Palace!

Crystal Palace came away from Anfield with a 3 – 1 victory to spoil Stephen Gerrard’s final day at Anfield. Liverpool took the lead through Adam Lallana but Palace equalised via a free kick by Jason Puncheon on forty three minutes two minutes before half time.

This Liverpool side is not the best and this was illustrated in the second half when goals from Wilfried Zaha and a ninetieth minute winner from Glenn Murray to make the final score 1 – 3. Palace controlled the play and substitute keeper Wayne Hennessey remained largely unchallenged as Liverpool was side tracked by the emotions of the day as gerrard said goodbye to Anfield in his final home game for the club.

On the flipside though Palace was excellent taking charge of the occasion and carrying Pardew’s management instructions to the letter to put four successive defeats ending a poor run of form that had lasted over a month. Liverpool was in charge most of the second half yet the timing of the equaliser just before half time meant the wind was taken out of Liverpool’s sails and they could not recapture their form in the second half. Indeed Palace pushed on causing confusion and muddlement in the Liverpool defence and this allowed both Zaha and Murray to come to the fore and punish Liverpool for lacklustre defending.

In the second half Palace overpowered Liverpool, Proper hold up play by Glenn Murray gave time and space to bully Liverpool in the final third, this in turn opened up Liverpool in the final third, allowing Zaha and Murray to score enabling Palace to secure a 1 – 3 win.

At full time emotions spilled out from the Kop onto the Anfield pitch, You Will Never Walk Alone, Justice for the 96, and Anfield Road rang around the ground Stephen Gerrard was given a guard of honour before the game and afterwards gave an emotional farewell speech alongside his family to the Kop.

Next weekend sees the end of the season and Palace finish off at home to Swansea City and this gives Palace the opportunity to end the season on a high having already secured 11^th place in the league.