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Kirsty Wigglesworth
AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Crystal Palace v Liverpool, Premier League

Liverpool played Crystal Palace in their second league game of the season.

Hello, and welcome to tonight’s liveblog.

As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the game. E-mail paul@the42.ie, tweet @the42_ie, post a message to our Facebook wall, or leave a comment below.

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Kick off for the game is at 8pm.

We’re under way…

Liverpool break and Salah is one-on-one with Sakho.

The defender keeps his composure though, and blocks the shot of the Egypt international.

As expected, Liverpool have started this game on the front foot.

They are dominating possession and territory, but Palace have looked solid defensively so far and successfully combated any threatening moments.

Liverpool break, but Salah is just offside.

It’s bean a frustrating start for Jurgen Klopp’s side, who haven’t created any real chances of note in the opening 10 minutes.

As I type, Robinson finds himself in a promising position, after being played through out wide by Mané, but the full-back’s cross goes straight into Hennessey’s arms.

Liverpool are upping the tempo now.

Hennessey has to stretch to parry away a Milner cross.

According to Sky, the ball has been in the Palace final third 24% of the time, compared to just 8% for the Liverpool end.

That highlights the Reds’ dominance so far, with the hosts happy to soak up pressure and attempt to hit their opponents on the counter attack.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Premier League - Selhurst Park Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson (left) and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp before the Premier League match at Selhurst Park. Nick Potts Nick Potts

Keita turns away from his marker well and plays a wonderful lofted through ball to Salah.

The Egypt international takes it down beautifully. He needs to dink it over the onrushing goalkeeper, but instead his finish is uncharacteristically wasteful, as he blazes the ball over the bar.

Moments later, Keita plays a sloppy pass to put Liverpool under pressure, and Townsend subsequently hits the bar with a superb effort from distance.

Half chance for Liverpool.

It breaks for Keita in the box, and Hennessey is forced to parry the shot from a tight angle behind for a corner.

Schlupp hits a shot from distance that goes narrowly wide.

Palace are starting to look a bit more menacing on the counter attack now.

As I type, Gomez makes an excellent tackle on Zaha to prevent the attacker sprinting through on goal.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Premier League - Selhurst Park Nick Potts Nick Potts

A Salah cross falls to Robinson, but he can’t keep it down, as it bounces up awkwardly as he is about to strike it.

It may be 0-0, but it’s been a pretty entertaining first half regardless.

Wan-Bissaka gets to the by-line and puts in a dangerous cross, but there is no one in the right place to convert it.

Palace have grown in confidence as this half has developed.

Van Aanholt has received the first booking of the game for a rash challenge on Milner.

Palace were in a good position to counter there, so the crowd are not happy that the ref awarded a free kick.

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!

LIVERPOOL 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE (MILNER 45)

Milner sends Hennessy the wrong way from the spot.

The penalty was given, after Salah went down under Sakho’s challenge.

Judging by replays, it’s hard to disagree with the decision.

HALF-TIME: LIVERPOOL 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE 

Half-time, and Liverpool lead.

The Reds haven’t destroyed Palace by any means, but any mistakes tend to be punished by Liverpool’s potent attack, and that’s exactly what happened just before half time.

The hosts have threatened on occasion on the break and are by no means out of this game yet.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Premier League - Selhurst Park Liverpool's James Milner celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game from the penalty spot. Nick Potts Nick Potts

The second half has begun…

Liverpool counter with speed.

Robertson crosses for Salah, who tries to round the goalkeeper but drags it too wide.

The Egyptian’s subsequent low cross is dragged wide by Keita.

The ball is pumped forward to Zaha, who runs with pace at the Liverpool defence.

Eventually, he is taken down by Alexander-Arnold just outside the box.

Alisson is forced to parry the subsequent curled free kick by Milivojević wide.

Crystal Palace are having their best spell of the game.

Benteke’s header from a corner is saved by Alisson, though it wouldn’t have counted if it had gone in, as the referee has blown up for an infringement.

Palace have had 65% possession in the last few minutes according to Sky.

That stat indicates how the game has shifted to a degree since half-time.

The ball falls to Salah on the edge of the area. His subsequent attempt is deflected wide via the head of Schlupp.

Liverpool have been better in recent minutes.

Benteke evades the challenge of Wijnaldum, but his subsequent shot from the edge of the area is way off target much to the crowd’s audible frustration.

Meanwhile, Liverpool make a change, with Milner replaced by Henderson in midfield.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Premier League - Selhurst Park Liverpool's Mohamed Salah shoots past Crystal Palace goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey. Nick Potts Nick Potts

Palace make a change.

Benteke, who has look out of sorts and lacking in confidence tonight, is replaced by 22-year-old Norway international Alexander Sørloth, who Palace signed from Midtjylland last January.

Half chance for Palace.

Wan-Bissaka’s cross falls to Zaha, whose shot is powerful enough but straight at Alisson, who makes a relatively straightforward save.

RED CARD!

Salah bursts through on goal, and Wan-Bissaka trips up the attacker just outside the box.

He is rightly given his marching orders as a result.

The subsequent free kick is deflected over the bar.

Palace are forced into a defensive change as a result of that sending off.

Joel Ward comes on in place of Townsend.

Liverpool look much more confident now that they know they are playing against 10 men.

As I type though, there is a moment of panic for the Reds, as McArthur goes down under a challenge from Wijnaldum in the box.

The ref waves play on and it looked a good tackle, judging from replays.

Another nervy moment for Liverpool, as Zaha’s dangerous cross narrowly eludes everyone.

Down the other end, Salah sprints through on goal, but Sakho is on hand to stop him in his tracks.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool - Premier League - Selhurst Park Michael Oliver shows a red card to Crystal Palace's Aaron Wan-Bissaka (not in picture). Nick Potts Nick Potts

There will be four minutes of stoppage time…

LIVERPOOL 2-0 CRYSTAL PALACE (MANE 90)

Liverpool break and Mane finishes with great composure.

He shows great speed and strength to shrug off Van Aanholt’s despairing challenge, before taking it round Hennessey and slotting it into the empty net.

FULL-TIME: LIVERPOOL 2-0 CRYSTAL PALACE

That’s all from me for now. Thanks for reading and commenting.

You can read our match report here.

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