Liverpool - 3 (Baros 23. 45. 90.)
Crystal Palace - 2 (Kolkka 44. Hughes 52.)

Palace stayed up north for the few days before this match, following on from their encounter in the Cup against United, and although the result was not what we all desired it should be noted that we did achieve one or two milestones along the way. We became the first team to score two goals against our hosts at Anfield this season, and it took penalties in their favour for them to get the result. The validity of the penalties I will leave up to those more qualified than me, suffice it to say many were not convinced. Of course, Mr Dowd was, and I guess that is all that matters at the end of the day.

This match got underway, and the first action saw a corner to Liverpool that was fired in by Sanz Luis Garcia, but Gabor Kiraly had little trouble catching the ball at the near post. A foul by Jamie Carragher on Dougie Freedman led to a free kick for Palace, which was fired in by Michael Hughes, but cleared by Sami Hyypia.

Shortly after Ben Watson tried a shot on goal that was blocked by Xabi Alonso, at the expense of a corner, but the chance was wasted as the defence recovered in time to smother the move. Ben tried another shot on goal shortly after which was parried by Chris Kirkland in the home goal, and then as the ball made its' way down the other end Milan Baros got in a cross that saw Danny Granville make a great clearance. Djimi Traore got the next cross into our area, the chance being well plucked out of the air by Gabor, and the next time it came our way a good clearance was made by Emmerson Boyce.

Alonso sent in a cross that went straight out of play, without another player even getting a touch on it, though shortly after John Arne Riise did swing in a cross that Aki Riihilahti was somewhat fortunate to get clear before the attacking players could arrive. Tony Popovic blocked a shot fired goalwards by Jamie Carragher, and Gabor, standing firm in our goal, saved the resulting corner. Baros tried again, and Gabor held on once more, and finally a free kick came our way, Michael sending the kick forwards, with Hyypia making the clearance. Garcia tried a shot that missed to the left of the upright, but moments later Emmerson Boyce was deemed to have brought down Baros, and the referee awarded a penalty to the home side. Of course, Baros picked himself straight up and sent the spot kick sailing into the back of the net, and suddenly we were behind in a match where to date we had seemed to be holding our own.

Riise sent in another cross that was cleared by Tony, and then Baros was caught offside, just as it looked as if he might have got clear of the defence. A series of free kicks, throw-ins and end-to-end play ensued until Michael tried a cross into the area, Carragher making the clearance before Tony got a great cross in that found Joonas Kolkka, his shot flying into the back of the net before the keeper could react. Whilst we were still celebrating getting back on level terms though, and before many had taken their seats once again, Baros was fouled by Joonas, who was booked for his efforts, and Harry Kewell sent the free kick back to Baros, who duly scored his second of the afternoon. So, despite all our efforts we were back to a goal down, and we were into time added on in the first half.

Dougie was caught offside during that time, and a shot on goal by Garcia was parried by Gabor, the return strike from Dietmar Hamann missing to the left of the upright. The break arrived, and though Iain Dowie would have been somewhat perplexed that we had conceded two goals, he would have been pleased with the quality of the goal from Joonas, and he would have been asking for the same effort in the second stanza of play.

Riise got the first cross of the second half into our area, and Baros forced Gabor into tipping the ball away from the goalmouth to concede the first corner of this period. Alonso sent the corner back in, and despite a chance to Hamann the defence held firm, and the ball was cleared, first by Danny and then by Emmerson. Baros tried a shot that went wide of the mark, and Mikele Leigertwood cleared the next effort sent in by the Liverpool attack before Joonas was caught in an offside position.

Joonas then got the ball wide out on the left, and this time he sent an inch perfect cross in that Michael headed straight into the back of the net to put us back on level terms. Wayne Routledge cleared the next ball that came into our area before a corner saw Riise send his shot wide of the mark once more. Alonso sent a shot goalwards from a free kick, but his effort also went wide, and then Joonas tried another cross into the opposition area, the keeper this time getting to the ball first. Riise also tried a shot that missed, and he was substituted a few moments later, Steve Finnan taking his place.

Gonzalez Josemi sent a shot over the top of the bar, and Palace decided to make their first change, with Vassilios Lakis taking the place of Wayne. Clearances kept coming from our defence as the ball continued to rain on our area, but the chances were very few and far between, unless one counts the effort of Garcia, that went wide of the mark. Baros managed to miss from merely 6 yards out and Alonso sent his effort sailing over the top before Kewell saw his effort miss to the right of the goal post.

A foul on Aki by Alonso led to an immediate change for Palace, with Tom Soares taking his place due to injury, and we can only hope that Aki will be fit again in time for the match next week. Somehow Michael managed to get booked, presumably for interfering in the decision made by the referee in an incident involving Tom and Baros, and as all this happened Liverpool made another change, replacing Josemi with Neil Mellor. Garcia had a shot go wide and Kewell's effort was punched clear by Gabor.

Traore headed the ball over the top of the bar, and just as it started to look as if we may have weathered the storm, and with barely a minute left on the clock the referee ordered yet another penalty for Liverpool for a foul by Tony on Baros. Gabor got booked for wasting time, and of course Baros once again picked himself up and slotted the ball home to restore the home side's lead. Baros was then booked, and saw himself replaced, in another time wasting effort by Florent Sinama Pongolle.

The match came to an end, and given any more luck Palace deserved to have come away with at least a point. Still, we will just have to take all three against Newcastle next week at Selhurst Park, won't we?

Colin Pryce

Liverpool: Chris Kirkland, Gonzalez Josemi (Neil Mellor 80), Sami Hyypia, Jamie Carragher, Djimi Traore, Sanz Luis Garcia, Xabi Alonso, Dietmar Hamann, John Arne Riise (Steve Finnan 62), Harry Kewell, Milan Baros (Florent Sinama Pongolle 90).

Substitutes not used: Jerzy Dudek, Igor Biscan.

Crystal Palace: Gabor Kiraly, Mikele Leigertwood, Emmerson Boyce, Tony Popovic, Danny Granville, Wayne Routledge (Vassilios Lakis 65), Ben Watson, Aki Riihilahti (Tom Soares 76), Michael Hughes, Joonas Kolkka, Dougie Freedman.

Substitutes not used: Julian Speroni, Mark Hudson, Wayne Andrews.

Attendance: 42,862

Referee: Mr P Dowd