Crystal Palace v Liverpool review 2014

          Both of these teams have not had the greatest of starts to their 2014/15 campaign. Last season, they each performed far better than many expected, with Palace surviving relegation, and Liverpool only a whisker away from claiming the title. On that note, this fixture will bring back bad memories for any Liverpool fan. The comeback from Palace last season left Luis Suarez in tears, along with many of their supporters, which ultimately contributed to Liverpool's season ending on a low. Against all the odds, Palace were exceptional last season, and fully deserve their place in the top flight. However, with the departure of Tony Pulis at the start of season, they may find things a lot more difficult this time around.

          The game could not have got off to a worse start for Neil Warnock's troops. It took just a minute and a half for Liverpool to grab the lead. Lallana played a beautifully weighted, lofted ball over to Lambert, who kept a cool head to slot home past Speroni. Palace responded well and immediately went searching for an equaliser. Eventually their persistence payed off. Yannick Bolasie, undoubtedly Palace's most threatening player in the first half, was given far too much room to release a thunderbolt that rattled the post, which rebounded into the path of Dwight Gayle. He gleefully tapped it past the scrambling Mignolet, to send Selhurst Park into pandemonium. The rest of the half was rather subdued, with few chances created by either team. The two sides went in level at half time.

          Liverpool made offensive changes in the hope of attaining all three points. Borini came on for Lallana to give them more fire power up top. But the substitutions hardly made an impact. Instead, Palace continued their high tempo level of play and looked threatening whenever they ventured into the Liverpool half. They broke Liverpool down through, once again, a piece of individual brilliance from Bolasie down the line. He fired a cross in towards Joe Ledley who side foot finished between the legs of Mignolet. To add insult to injury, Palace went on to get a third and it was the goal of the game. A superb free kick from Mile Jedinak that curled over the wall into the top right hand corner. From then on, it was a case of Palace staying professional and seeing out the game, which they did. Palace lifted themselves to 15th place while Liverpool remain in 12th.

          Liverpool do not look half as good as they did last season, and seem to still be in a period of transition. The new signings do not seem to be making much of an impact, most noticeably Markovic and Balotelli, who have produced thoroughly underwhelming performances when they have been picked. Alarm bells must now be ringing for Brendan Rodgers. His teams morale is shattered, and he has a tough Champions league game in mid week to contend with. As for Palace, they came into this game sitting just one point above bottom side QPR. It was vital they got something from this game and they fought hard to do so. Neil Warnock must also be delighted at the fact that his team do not seem to have lost their fighting spirit that they were famous for under Tony Pulis. Palace were well worth their win today, Liverpool are crumbling.