Benteke comes back to haunt Liverpool
LIVERPOOL old-boy Christian Benteke stunned his former club with both Crystal Palace goals in a 2-1 win at Anfield yesterday, denting the home side’s top-four Premier League ambitions.
Benteke handed a massive boost to Palace’s survival hopes with a goal in each half to cancel out Philippe Coutinho’s brilliant opener for the Reds and turn the game on its head.
Liverpool paid £32-million (R538-million) for Benteke when they signed him from Aston Villa in 2015 but sold him to Palace for £27-million (R452-million) a year later.
He made them pay for that decision with goals in the 42nd and 74th minutes which moved Palace seven points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.
But defeat left Jurgen Klopp’s side in third place, just two points clear of fourth-placed Manchester City and three ahead of Manchester United in fifth.
Both Manchester clubs have two games in hand in the scrap for Champions League places, meaning Liverpool’s fate is no longer in their own hands.
Liverpool’s forwards turned on the tricks and Roberto Firmino’s clever spin away from two Palace defenders sparked an attack.
He attempted to spread play wide for Coutinho, but Georginio Wijnaldum inadvertently got in the way.
Palace had offered little attacking threat but on 21 minutes they almost stunned the hosts when Benteke bullied his way towards goal and bent a rightfooted shot just wide of Simon Mignolet’s goal.
When the opening goal came, it came in real style in the 24th minute. Palace midfielder Luka Milivojevic was penalised for a foul on Coutinho, who dusted himself down before bending a brilliant right-footed free kick past a helpless Wayne Hennessey and inside his right-hand post from 25m.
Palace hit back to equalise with a wonderful counter-attack three minutes from halftime.
Joel Ward’s clever ball over the top dropped perfectly into the stride of Yohan Cabaye, who delivered a delicious cut-back from the right for Benteke to produce a crisp, first-time finish at the far post.
Meanwhile, Wayne Rooney and Anthony Martial scored on their returns to the side as Manchester United improved their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish with a 2-0 win at Burnley yesterday.
Martial’s strike in particular was a perfect response after his form had been criticised by boss Jose Mourinho this week. The French international started and finished a goal of devastating pace and simplicity after 21 minutes.
Having dispossessed Joey Barton inside his own half, the Frenchman initiated the counter-attack with a sprint and pass to Ander Herrera.
The Spanish midfielder returned the favour, picking out the run of Martial perfectly and sliding through a pass for the striker to collect, take a touch and beat Tom Heaton from 6m.
United’s important second goal, after 39 minutes, was far more scrappy but potentially vital for the fates of both clubs this season.
It was only Rooney’s third league goal of a season which had threatened to end with the club’s all-time leading scorer playing only a bit part in the proceedings.