Liverpool produced a strong second-half display to defeat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening and book their place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup in the process.
The seven-time winners of this oldest cup competition in the world found themselves a goal behind at the interval, although strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Adam Lallana turned the game around in the second 45 minutes.
Sturridge could have given the visitors an early lead from Lazar Markovic’s right-wing cross, but miscued his effort and sent it wide.
Liverpool dominated possession in the opening few minutes, but with Palace’s first foray froward they found the back of the net. Martin Skrtel failed to deal with a high ball and after Simon Mignolet had denied Dwight Gayle, Fraizer Campbell lashed home the rebound.
Liverpool almost levelled through Lallana, who fired goalwards after a slick move, but Julian Speroni’s reaction save denied the midfielder.
was the next player to come close with a low drive, but the Brazilian’s strike was blocked.
Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen both fired shots towards goal from 25 yards and Sturridge saw claims for a penalty waved away as the Reds turned up the pressure as the half wore on.
Coutinho stung the hands of Speroni once more before Markovic blazed a shot over the bar following a mazy run, but they had Mignolet to thank on the stroke of half time as he denied Gayle as he raced through on goal.
Both sides opted to make a change at the break with Mario Balotelli coming on for Markovic and Jason Puncheon replacing Marouane Chamakh, and it almost paid instant dividends for the Eagles who came close to extending their lead when Puncheon tried his luck from from 20 yards with an effort which flew over the bar.
The Reds then managed to turn the game on its head with two goals in the space of eight minutes in South London, initially getting back on level terms courtesy of Sturridge’s volley towards the back post as he made the most of Henderson’s clipped cross into his path.
Lallana added his side’s second from close range after Balotelli’s free kick proved too hot for Speroni to handle – the Brazilian spilling the ball into the path of the England international who made no mistake from just a couple of yards out.
