ANOTHER LIVERPOOL LATE SHOW

Sit down, Mo, it’s Firmino in nick of time

MO SALAH could only laugh, turn back to the bench and grab his coat once more.

For three minutes, it seemed Liverpool would need another moment of inspiration from their Egyptian king.

For three long minutes, it seemed their title charge was about to hit a stumbling block.

They had led for most of the second half thanks to Sadio Mane’s opener, only for Wilfried Zaha to secure Crystal Palace a late equaliser at Selhurst Park.

Manager Jurgen Klopp turned to Salah, not fit enough to start, but still capable of magic. As the clock reached 85 minutes, the forward was ready, the fourth official was ready. But then Roberto Firmino spared his team-mate the trouble.

This is now the Liverpool way. Just ask Leicester, Aston Villa or Manchester United — the nights are shortening but still Klopp’s side find late goal after goal.

So instead it was Joe Gomez who came off the bench as Liverpool held on for another huge victory.

The frightening thing for the rest of the Premier League is just how much more they have left to give.

Again here at Selhurst Park, there were gaping holes in their performance — notably in the display of England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold and in a 10th straight game without a clean sheet

Again, though, they left with three points, their superiority atop the table secure for now. Who, or what, is going to stop their progress? VAR, perhaps?

Here, for the second game running, Liverpool benefitted from a tight decision as James Tomkins’ first-half opener was ruled out for a push by Jordan Ayew on Dejan Lovren. Palace had other chances to score but they ran out of steam at the end of a punishing stretch of games.

Their manager Roy Hodgson refused to blame VAR, claiming: ‘It’s the usual — close but no cigar — isn’t it?’ He added: ‘I thought it was our best performance of the season. It was a bitter blow after getting what we thought was a deserved equaliser.’

Deserved, perhaps, but ultimately futile as Liverpool headed back up north savouring another late win.

They have now lost just once in their past 52 Premier League matches — and none of their past 30.

Mane, meanwhile, has scored in each of Liverpool’s last five games against Palace. He could have stretched that run much earlier in the game.

Early in the first half his neat turn sent two Palace players down a blind alley, allowing Liverpool to work a crossing chance through Alexander-Arnold. The defender’s pull-back found Mane in the box but his effort was well blocked.

Minutes later, Alexander-Arnold almost turned provider for the home side. His crossfield pass went straight to Andros Townsend on the Palace right. Eventually, the ball came out to Cheikhou Kouyate, whose lovely cross was poked wide by Ayew.

It was a poor miss but one Palace thought they would not rue for long. Shortly before the break Tomkins headed home after Gini Wijnaldum inadvertently flicked on Luka Milivojevic’s free-kick.

But VAR Chris Kavanagh penalised a push by Ayew on Lovren. It looked a clear foul, and was the right call according to Hodgson.

For Liverpool, it was certainly a let-off. They had lacked their usual pace and precision. Then in an instant they sprung to life.

Shortly after the break, Jordan Henderson found Mane with a pinpoint pass on the counter. The forward took the ball in his stride but his stroked effort went wide of the near post. Moments later, all was forgotten. Andy Robertson’s limp cross was allowed to run all the way to Mane on the penalty spot. His shot on the turn was tipped against a post by Vicente Guaita. But the ball rolled across goal, off the other post, and over the line before Patrick van Aanholt could clear. Another assist for Liverpool’s full-backs and another goal for Mane. Palace almost responded instantly. Townsend and Milivojevic both tried their luck from distance before Firmino was denied by Guaita after the tireless Robertson exchanged passes with substitute Divock Origi.

At the other end, Alisson was nearly beaten by Jeffrey Schlupp’s low strike and Christian Benteke’s bicycle kick. Eventually Zaha did equalise after neat feet from Townsend.

Selhurst Park erupted and for three minutes it seemed Hodgson, whose own disastrous Anfield reign in 2010-11 has been held up as evidence of how far Liverpool have come in the past decade, would be the man to frustrate them.

But this Liverpool side do not know when to lie down. As Salah waited on the touchline, Virgil van Dijk turned a late corner towards goal, prompting a goalmouth scramble. No one could clear it so Firmino coolly curled home from close range.