Liverpool returned to the top of the Premier League table this afternoon courtesy of a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace at Anfield.
Luis Suarez opened the scoring for the hosts in his first home game since returning from his 10-match ban, poking the ball past Julian Speroni despite having slipped inside the box.
Daniel Sturridge doubled the lead shortly afterwards with a clinical finish into the bottom far corner from a tight angle.
Steven Gerrard then capped off Liverpool's scoring before half time, netting from the spot after Dean Moxey had been adjudged to have brought Raheem Sterling down inside the box.
Palace pulled a consolation goal back in the second half when Dwight Gayle flicked a free kick past Simon Mignolet, but Liverpool held out for a comfortable three points.
You can read how an entertaining 90 minutes unfolded with Sports Mole's live coverage below.
Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining us here at Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between high-flying Liverpool and struggling Crystal Palace. On paper, this seems like a one-sided encounter, but will that be the case?
We'll start by looking at our hosts and, after a little bit of a wobble, Liverpool look to be back on course for a serious top four challenge this season. With so much competition for those Champions League spots every point is vital, and today's matches are simply ones that you have to come away with a win from.
Everything started so well for Liverpool as they won their opening three games, all by the score of 1-0. Victories over Stoke and Aston Villa were, perhaps, to be expected, but their success over Manchester United really sent a message out to the league's other top teams that Liverpool are once again a force to be reckoned with.
However, a three-match winless streak followed in all competitions, with a draw to Swansea and surprise home defeat at the hands of Southampton seeing Liverpool drop their first points of the season, while United got revenge for their earlier defeat with a 1-0 win in the League Cup last month.
If manager Brendan Rodgers could have hand-picked two games to get his side back into form, however, it probably would have been against the bottom two in the league - which is exactly what has happened. A 3-1 win over Sunderland in their first post-Di Canio match saw a happy return for Luis Suarez, while Crystal Palace, on paper at least, should not pose much more of a threat to the Reds today.
Speaking of Suarez, the controversial striker will make his long-awaited return to Anfield this afternoon after his lengthy ban. He may have been involved in a transfer saga during the summer, with his loyalty to the club being called seriously into question, but the home fans will give him nothing less than a rapturous reception today. Liverpool played five league games here while Suarez was serving his biting ban and those matches yielded just four goals for the Reds.
That is likely to change sooner rather than later with the mouth-watering combination of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge teaming up on a regular basis. The duo scored all three of Liverpool's goals against Sunderland between them, with Sturridge netting once and setting up his strike partner for the other two. Both are in fine goalscoring form, with Suarez scoring 18 goals in his last 21 games, and Sturridge managing the same amount of goals in the 24 games he has played for Liverpool since joining in January.
While most eyes will, understandably, be on Suarez today, Palace would be silly to ignore the threat of Sturridge, who has established himself as one of the league's most prolific scorers in his short spell with Liverpool. He has scored eight of their last 12 Premier League goals, a statistic that was even more impressive before Suarez's brace last week. Against a Palace defence that is yet to keep a clean sheet this season, those two will be licking their lips.
However, as the old adage goes, there are no easy games in the Premier League. Liverpool will not go into this one thinking that it is a foregone conclusion and, if they do, they could be in for a rude awakening. Defeat this afternoon would consign the Reds to their first back-to-back home defeats in the Premier League for more than a year, going back to when Manchester United and Arsenal beat them here in consecutive games in September 2012.
Palace have had a really tough time of things in the top flight so far. Three points from their opening six games makes grim reading for manager Ian Holloway, although it has been a baptism of fire for his side. After today's match, they would have already played Tottenham, Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as a Swansea side beginning to find their top form. Those games aren't easy for the most established Premier League sides, yet alone newcomers.
Even so, it has been a poor start for the Eagles and their 19th place in the table reflects that. Their solitary win came over the only club with a worse plight than themselves at the moment when they beat Sunderland 3-1, but any hopes that that would kick-start their season were dashed by a 2-0 defeat at Old Trafford the following match.
Their last outing - a 2-0 defeat to Southampton - was their third consecutive game without scoring, which will be a major concern for Holloway. No goals throughout the whole month of September is a damning statistic for the Eagles, who brought in the likes of Gayle and Chamakh during the transfer window. In fact, they have only scored four goals all season so far, which is fewer than Daniel Sturridge has managed on his own.
Their struggles in front of goal stretch back into last season - they have failed to score in 11 of their last 18 league games, including playoffs. Of course, the long-term injury suffered by top scorer Glenn Murray and the departure of Wilfried Zaha will not have helped matters, but Holloway needs his current fit players to step up to the plate now.
What he doesn't want them to do is step up toe-to-toe with each other. Palace have shown plenty of fighting spirit this season, as demonstrated by the fact that they have made more tackles (146) than any other side in the league, but last week their players started fighting each other as Dean Moxey and Marouane Chamakh had a bust up at half time over a dive by the latter. Holloway insists that the issue has now been resolved, but it points to cracks already emerging in the Palace dressing room.
The Eagles' away form has been pretty poor recent. They have lost all four of their matches on their travels this season, including a 2-1 defeat at the hands of lowly Bristol City in the League Cup. Stretching back to their last stint in the top flight, Palace are winless in their last 16 Premier League away games. Their last victory away from home in this division saw them beat Birmingham City 1-0 in 2004.
TEAM NEWS: Time for some team news! The only real question surrounding Liverpool's selection was who would replace the suspended Lucas Leiva. As expected, it is Henderson who has gone into the middle with Raheem Sterling replacing him on the right. Suarez does indeed make his home return, alongside Sturridge. For Palace, Chamakh and Moxey both start, while Damien Delaney has proved his fitness in time to also earn his place in the first XI. Full team news coming right up.
LIVERPOOL STARTING XI: Mignolet; Toure, Skrtel, Sakho, Enrique; Henderson, Gerrard, Sterling, Moses; Sturridge, Suarez
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Jones, Ibe, Wisdom, Agger, Aspas, Ilori, Alberto
CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Speroni; Ward, Mariappa, Delaney, Moxey; Jedinak, O'Keefe, Puncheon, Kebe; Jerome, Chamakh
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Price, Inniss, Campana, Guedioura, Bolasie, Gayle, Phillips
No surprises from either side, then. For Liverpool, their most potent threats will, of course, be that lethal duo of Suarez and Sturridge. I expect Suarez to start in a central role with Sturridge wider, but they are two versatile players who could switch throughout the match, making them hard to track for the opposition defence.
Alternatively, Rodgers may opt for a 3-5-2 formation with Enrique joining Gerrard, Henderson, Moses and Sterling in midfield leaving the central trio of Sakho, Skrtel and Toure at the back. In a match where Palace are not expected to threaten much, that could be a very real possibility for the Liverpool boss. In the likes of Gerrard they have the perfect man to dominate that midfield area as well as to create chances for the front two. The Liverpool skipper has created more chances from set pieces than any other player in the league this season, with eight, and we all know how dangerous he can be from open play too.
Liverpool's defence has been pretty sturdy so far this season, with Kolo Toure and Sakho slotting straight into the starting lineup. Sakho has looked a little shaky at times, but big things are expected of the former PSG man and he has a lot of potential. Behind them, they have arguably Liverpool's best signing of the summer in Simon Mignolet. He made a brilliant start to his Liverpool career and looks like an incredibly solid keeper. While Reina will go down as a very well-respected Liverpool goalie, he was prone to the odd error, which is a feeling you just don't get from Mignolet.
As for Palace, the two players who most eyes would have been on were Delaney and Bolasie. Delaney has been deemed fit enough to play, which is a big boost for Holloway's back line, while Bolasie - wisely I think - has been left on the bench. The midfielder has fully recovered from injury now but is lacking match practice have not featured so far this season, so Holloway is likely to ease him back into action. Anfield is certainly not the place to do that, at least not from the start.
Their main threats will come from Chamakh and Jerome up front, both of whom are not prolific but have a point to prove, which can be very dangerous in a player. Behind them, Puncheon and Kebe certainly have the ability to test opposition defenders, and with no Lucas playing the anchor role today they could eye that position between the Liverpool midfield and defence as a position to be exploited. Henderson has certainly improved in recent weeks, but he is not the defensive force that Lucas is.
Despite not having played each other for a while, Palace's 'recent' record against Liverpool is good. The Eagles have won the last two meetings between the sides, winning their last Premier League match 1-0 and then beating Rafael Benitez's side 2-1 in the League Cup in 2005.
In fact, you'd have to go back almost nine years to find the last time that Liverpool beat Palace. That came on November 13, 2004, when Milan Baros scored a hat-trick for the Reds in an entertaining 3-2 win at Anfield. Anfield is certainly a place that hasn't been too kind to Palace as they have only one here against Liverpool once, way back in November 1991.
PREDICTION: We're 10 minutes from kickoff at Anfield, which can mean only one thing - it's match prediction time! Everything points towards a comfortable Liverpool win today and, to be honest, I can't see anything other than that scenario. Crystal Palace are bound to pull of something of a shock sooner or later as their poor form can't last forever, but Anfield isn't the place for it to happen. Suarez's return and Sturridge's form will once again conspire to help Liverpool to a win, and I will go for 3-0 to the Reds.
As if 45,000 Liverpool fans inside Anfield and millions more around the world wasn't a big enough incentive for the Liverpool players, they would also return to the summit of the Premier League with a win this afternoon. It is likely to only be temporary, with current leaders Arsenal not playing until tomorrow, but it would be another message from Brendan Rodgers's men and would put extra pressure on the Gunners to get a result.
One things that Liverpool have done particularly well so far this season is start well. They have averaged their first goal in the 19th minute, which is faster than any other side in the Premier League this season. I have a feeling that they will come out of the traps quickly today as well, looking to get the fans excited for what could potentially be a bit of a rout.
As I mentioned earlier, Palace's 'recent' record against Liverpool is quite good, with three wins from the last four meetings, and manager Ian Holloway also has fond memories against the Reds. He won on his last visit to Anfield, guiding his Blackpool side to victory over a Liverpool team then managed by Roy Hodgson.
There are three other games kicking off at 3pm this afternoon, and I will keep you updated with events from each of them as and when they happen. Alternatively, you can check out what other live commentaries we have to offer here, with matches from the Premier League, Championship and La Liga - among others - being covered. Already today the league's last undefeated record has gone with Manchester City beating Everton 3-1 at the Etihad.
The ever-inspiring 'You'll Never Walk Alone' rings around the ground as Kenny Dalglish, who recently returned to Liverpool, is seen in the stands. Even Ian Holloway is singing along!
KICKOFF: Liverpool get us underway on an immaculate Anfield pitch. Can they move back to the top of the Premier League today?
Flares are being let off in the Palace end as a party atmosphere engulfs Anfield. Unsurprisingly, the hosts have enjoyed the lion's share of possession early on.
Liverpool have indeed started with three at the back, with Enrique and Sterling acting as attacking wing-backs for the Reds. It is an interesting formation from Rodgers and it could well work in matches like this. Whether he will persist with it once Glen Johnson returns remains to be seen.
The hosts have started brightly here, with a couple of tricks and flicks not quiet coming off in and around the box for Liverpool. It has been a busy start for Palace's defence, but they have held firm so far.
CHANCE! The first chance of the afternoon falls to the visitors against the run of play. Kebe slipped the ball to Puncheon, who lifted a decent ball into the box towards Cameron Jerome. The former Stoke man just can't get enough on his header as it is too high, however. Had that been a couple of inches lower, it would have been a simple finish for the Palace striker.
YELLOW CARD! Stuart O'Keefe is the first man in the book for a late challenge on Sakho. Those are always tough for the ref as O'Keefe was making the slide to try to block a clearance, but he arrived too late and caught Sakho.
CHANCE! Big chance for Moses to score against his former club! Enrique steers a sublime low ball into the box and Moses finds himself clean through on goal with space to work with. His first touch is poor, however, and allows the keeper to collect. That was the best chance of the match so far.
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Crystal Palace (Luis Suarez)
That is quite brilliant from Suarez, who somehow manages to sweep the ball past Speroni while on the floor. It was he who initially gave the ball to Enrique on the left before collecting the Spaniard's cutback inside the box. The Uruguayan worked his way into a shooting position inside the box but slipped at the vital moment, only to then stick his leg out and poke it into the back of the net!
SAVE! Almost two in as many minutes for Liverpool as Sturridge cuts in from the right before firing a powerful effort towards Speroni's near post, but the Palace keeper is equal to it and parries the ball behind for a corner.
GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Crystal Palace (Daniel Sturridge)
Sturridge just can't stop scoring at the moment. It is a superb finish from the striker as he turns Delaney inside out in the box before hammering his finish into the far corner from a tight angle. Perhaps the keeper, and Delaney, should have done better, but it was a really clinical finish.
Liverpool are rampant at the moment. Suarez finds space down the left again and sends a very dangerous ball into the box. Sturridge looks like he will get onto the end of it, but Delaney gets a vital toe to the ball to send it behind for a corner. Good defending.
I said that I expected Liverpool to start quickly, and they most certainly have done that. The hosts look dangerous every time they venture forward, which is quite often at the moment, and this one could end up being a rout if Palace don't improve.
Palace can't get close to Liverpool at the moment, but at least they have seemingly plugged the gaps that were beginning to appear for the hosts. Holloway seems to have moved to a 4-4-2 from his original 4-3-3.
Important block from Sakho as Chamakh slips the ball to O'Keefe, who has plenty of space on the edge of the box to pick his spot. The Liverpool man gets in the way of the effort, however, and Liverpool are able to clear the danger.
CHANCES! Big chances for Palace as Kebe makes his way down the right before being denied by Mignolet, with Toure having to clear the ball off the line. Jerome then fires a shot goalwards which is very well saved by Mignolet before Kebe blasts the rebound over the bar. That probably should have been a goal for the visitors.
Palace have certainly improved since that tactical change from Holloway, and they've probably been the better team over the last five minutes or so. Liverpool have been forced into a couple of panicky clearances and relied on some good reactions from Mignolet.
CLOSE! My word, that is desperately close to a comical own goal from Sakho. Jerome's low ball into the box beat Mignolet who came to try to intercept it, and Sakho's wild attempted clearance is sliced just wide. He is a lucky man there, and his face suggests that he knows it.
UPDATE: The first goal of the other 3pm kickoffs has gone the way of Newcastle through Loic Remy. They lead Cardiff 1-0.
Here is a picture of Luis Suarez scrambling in his side's opening goal while on the floor. Great tenacity from the striker.
© Getty Images
Palace have certainly steadied the ship after that quickfire two-goal salvo from the hosts. They perhaps should have got a goal back since then, but they can't have too many complaints at being behind.
PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!
GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace (Steven Gerrard)
Gerrard makes it 3-0 to Liverpool from the penalty spot, sending Speroni the wrong way with an authoritative strike into the bottom corner. There is big controversy over the award of the spot kick, however, as the foul by Moxey on Sterling appeared to occur just outside the box. It was a tough call, but the linesman got it wrong, I think.
OFF THE BAR! Oh how is it not 4-0?! Suarez weaves his magic down the left again and fires a low cross into the middle where Moses is waiting unmarked from four yards with the goal gaping. He can't quite adjust his feet in time and his muddled effort bounces off the floor and onto the bar. Moses was already turning to not celebrate against his old side!
Liverpool are just moving the ball from side to side and Palace can't seem to cope with it at times. Gerrard's long passing to Enrique forces the defence to crab across the field and holes are opening every time they do that.
UPDATE: Loic Remy has bagged a brace in South Wales as Newcastle have taken a 2-0 lead over Cardiff City. That would be a much-needed win for the Magpies.
Suarez just always seems to have space in and around the opposition box, which is something that Palace need to address at the break. This time his pass to Enrique is slightly over-hit, forcing the full-back wider than he would have liked. The cross is subsequently cleared, which ends another promising attack for the hosts.
Sturridge finds space down the right side of the box but can't produce a similar finish to his goal on his weaker right foot. Instead, it is a fairly comfortable save for Speroni.
There will be one minute of added time at the end of this half.
SAVE! Nice play again from Suarez as he works space to shoot inside the box like only he can, but Speroni is down smartly to make an important save on the stroke of half time.
HALF TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace
HALF TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Crystal Palace
Well, what a half of football that was for Liverpool. They go into the break 3-0 up thanks to a dominant first half display in which Crystal Palace really struggled to deal with them. Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard got the goals for the Reds, but it could have been even worse for Palace at the break.
Suarez's goal was incredibly inventive from the Uruguayan, who somehow managed to squeeze a shot past Speroni while on the floor having slipped. He reacted quicker than any of the Palace defenders to the situation and subsequently marked his home return with a goal. His potent partnership with Sturridge continued just three minutes later when the England striker slammed his shot into the far corner from a tight angle. It was a very clinical finish from Sturridge, who is in the form of his life at the moment.
Is there a better striking partnership in the league than those two right now? Brendan Rodgers couldn't think of one, and I am struggling to as well. Not even Rooney and Van Persie can match the level of performance Sturridge and Suarez are producing at this moment in time, and Palace have really struggled to deal with the deadly duo this afternoon.
Liverpool's third goal was a controversial one as the linesman flagged for a penalty despite Moxey's foul on Sterling appearing to take place outside the box. It was certainly a foul, and Sterling's fall took him into the area, but the officials seemed to get that one wrong. Liverpool weren't complaining, however, and Gerrard sent the keeper the wrong way with his penalty into the bottom corner.
Victor Moses has also hit the bar for the Reds, somehow not converting Suarez's cross from four yards out with the goal gaping, while Speroni has made a string of important saves to keep the score down to just three. It could be more for the Reds, and Rodgers will want them to push on in the second half and send a message to their rivals. Liverpool have had a tendency to take their foot off the pedal in the second half of matches so far this season, but now is the perfect opportunity to put an end to that.
As for Palace, they have had a few chances in the first half, so it isn't all doom and gloom for them. Kebe perhaps should have scored just before the half-hour mark, while only a fine Mignolet save denied Jerome just before that. However, you'd have to say that their chances of getting anything out of this match are all-but over. Holloway will be demanding an improved performance in the second half, but he knows that they will fall to their fourth consecutive defeat here.
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: There has been a double change at half time from Holloway as Campana and Dwight Gayle come on for Kebe and Jerome.
KICKOFF: The second half is underway as Liverpool look destined to return to the top of the Premier League table. Can they add to their lead?
An early Liverpool corner is met by Sakho, but he can't steer his header on target and it ends up a couple of yards wide of the post. Bright start to the half from the hosts, however.
There may have been a change in personnel for Palace, but not much appears to have changed in either their formation or the way the match is going. Liverpool are still in complete control at the start of this half.
Rodgers insisted that Liverpool's second half displays were a mental problem rather than a tactical ploy, so it will be interesting to see if the players kick on in this half. This game is as good as won, but you feel that they won't get as good a chance to fill their boots all season, so it would be a shame if they didn't push for more here.
It has become a little disjointed in the last few minutes as Anthony Taylor is forced to blow his whistle for a couple of offences. It isn't quite working as well for Liverpool in the final third as it was in the first half at the moment.
Palace are looking a little more solid in the wide areas that caused them so many problems in the first half. There is still space to exploit out there, but the likes of Suarez, Enrique and Sturridge aren't having things all their own way at the moment.
The first 12 minutes appear to have seen Liverpool drop into a familiar second-half rhythm. They no longer seem to have the fluidity and free-flowing style up front as they did in the first half, and they are allowing Palace a lot more of the ball.
UPDATE: Cardiff have pulled a goal back against Newcastle through Peter Odemwingie. It is now 2-1 to the Magpies in Wales.
Those two subs by Palace at half time have certainly seen the visitors able to keep hold of the ball better than they did in the first half. They haven't created anything of note since the restart, but they are looking more threatening in possession and have been able to control the tempo a little more in this second half.
A reminder that, as things stand, Liverpool will be top of the table at the end of the day. Arsenal play tomorrow and could regain their place at the summit but, for now, it looks like the Reds will be in pole position.
Sterling shows good strength to make progress down the right flank before zipping a low ball into the box that Speroni is able to hold at the near post. That was too close to the keeper, but could have been a decent ball had someone gambled at the near post.
LIVERPOOL SUBS: Double change for Liverpool as Luis Alberto replaces Moses, who really should have scored today. Daniel Agger also comes on for the Reds in place of Sakho.
CLOSE! That is the best moment of this second half so far as Gayle is given too much time around the edge of the box after a careless pass from Enrique. Gayle hammers a shot towards goal but can't keep it down as it goes flying over the bar.
PALACE SUB: Yannick Bolasie makes his long-awaited return from injury in Palace's last sub of the day, replacing the ineffective Chamakh.
Great skill from Suarez as he squeezes out a low cross into the box, but for once Sturridge isn't on the same wavelength and Palace are able to clear.
Sturridge and Suarez are both queuing up to shoot but they get in each other's way in the end, allowing Delaney to make an important tackle in a crowded penalty area.
Moxey is down and hurt at the moment after an accidental collision with Suarez, who was tracking back to defend for his side. Palace have already made all three subs, remember, so this would be a major blow for Holloway if Moxey is unable to continue.
YELLOW CARD! Raheem Sterling becomes only the second player to enter the book for a foul on Yannick Bolasie deep in Liverpool territory.
GOAL! Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace (Dwight Gayle)
Great movement from Dwight Gayle as he starts his run from behind the goal line before racing in front of his man and flicking the ball into the far corner from the free kick. Palace have their first goal in four matches, and Gayle has a personal moment of pride as he scores at Anfield.
Brendan Rodgers will not be happy with that one bit. Having looked so impressive in the first half, Liverpool have become complacent and looked lacklustre in the second. That robs them of their clean sheet and also hands Palace a glimmer, albeit a small one, of hope.
Liverpool's intensity level has gone up a little since that goal, and so it should. They were cruising at 3-0 and perhaps got a little lazy. They were correctly punished for that, and now seem to be intent on restoring their three-goal lead.
UPDATE: Fulham have taken the lead in a hugely-important match for them. Darren Bent is the man who got the goal to give Martin Jol's side a 1-0 lead over Stoke.
Speroni takes a gamble when he takes on Suarez a couple of yards from his own goal, and he will be as relieved as anyone that it came off. Risky goalkeeping for the Palace veteran!
OFF THE POST! Liverpool come within the post's width of regaining their three-goal lead. Suarez plays the ball to Sturridge, who swings his weaker right foot at it but sees his effort come back off the inside of the post. So close to a second for the England striker.
LIVERPOOL SUB: It has been another good performance from the goal machine that is Daniel Sturridge. He makes way to a big ovation to be replaced by Iago Aspas.
There will be four minutes of added time at the end of this match. The result was decided by half time, but will we have another goal in the closing stages?
This one looks like it will finish like this to be honest. Neither side looks too desperate to go forward in the closing stages and Liverpool seem content to control possession until the final whistle.
FULL TIME: Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace
Iago Aspas picks up a late yellow card for Liverpool for kicking the ball away just before the Anthony Taylor blows his final whistle. Liverpool go back top of the Premier League with a comfortable 3-1 win, although their hard work was all done in the first half as they took a 3-0 lead into the break.
Suarez, Sturridge and Gerrard got the goals for Liverpool in the opening period as Crystal Palace failed to deal with the Reds' fluid, free-flowing football. Brendan Rodgers will be happy at the result, but I'm sure his side's second half display will leave much to be desired as they took their foot off the pedal and allowed Palace back into the match.
As far as Palace are concerned, their poor form continues as they make it four defeats in a row, although one positive to come from the match is that they scored their first goal in more than a month. They were simply outplayed in the first half, but Holloway will be pretty happy with how his players responded and applied themselves in the second half with the game already lost. Yes, Liverpool took their foot off the pedal, but Palace's performance was also improved. Still, a long way to go for Palace and relegation is already looking like a likelihood.
Right, that's all we have time for this afternoon. Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was a comfortable afternoon at Anfield for Liverpool as they returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace. I will leave you with our match report, and be sure to stick around for analysis, which will be on site within half an hour. There is plenty more live football for you tomorrow, but if you can't wait until then check out our coverage of Sunderland vs. Manchester United here. From me, though, it is goodbye!
