Topics: Liverpool, Premier League
Liverpool survived an impressive second half display against Crystal Palace, thanks in part to a controversial penalty won by Diogo Jota.
Jurgen Klopp's side were much the better team in the first half at Selhurst Park and led 2-0 thanks to goals from Virgil van Dijk and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Late in the first half Palace started putting on pressure and may have pulled one back, if it weren't for Alisson and some close offside calls.
Patrick Vieira's team did break through at the beginning of the second half, thanks to Odsonne Edouard, and only Alisson's brilliant performance stopped them getting another.
With time running out, and Palace still pushing for an equaliser, Jota was adjudged to have been fouled by Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita, with VAR over ruling the referee who initially had no interest in giving the spot kick.
Klopp's team went into Sunday's game with a boost in the title race, after Manchester City had surprisingly dropped points to Southampton on Saturday evening.
Van Dijk powered home a header from a corner, after being left unmarked, after just eight minutes, as the Reds dominated the early exchanges.
Alisson had one save to make, but it was from an offside position and never would have counted, but Klopp's side were worth the 2-0 lead when Oxlade-Chamberlain doubled their advantage just after the half hour mark.
The Brazilian keeper then had to make two big saves before the break, as the south Londoners showed what was to come in the second half.
Edouard's goal came 10 minutes after the break, and the Eagles might have had two goals before eventually beating Liverpool's in form goalkeeper.
Michael Olise had a huge chance to equalise in the 84th minute, and it looked for all the world like he'd lobbed the ball over Alisson and into the goal, only for the former Roma player to get back and claw the ball away.
A minute later Jota collided with Guaita and Kevin Friend had no interest in giving a penalty, that's until VAR looked at it and told him to look at the monitor, eventually Fabinho converted the spot kick.
