Crystal Palace left Anfield with maximum points after an impressive showing downed Champions League chasing Liverpool.
Crystal Palace inflicted a 2-1 Premier League defeat on Liverpool to ease any threat of a potential end of season relegation battle for the Eagles.
A double strike from former Liverpool forward Christian Benteke provided Palace with the vital three points to leave Sam Allardyce’s side in a much more comfortable position of 12th in the Premier League standings, seven points clear of the drop zone.
Further, Palace have now won six of their past eight league fixtures – including a fantastic 1-0 away victory over table-toppers Chelsea at the start of the month – and have become the first team since Chelsea in 2005 to emerge victorious from their last three Premier League visits to Anfield.
Benteke’s brace, one bagged in each half, enabled Palace to complete an admirable comeback at Anfield after Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho had given the Reds a 24th minute lead – with the defeat leaving Liverpool’s hopes of finishing in the top four and potential Champions League qualification not so straight forward.
Crystal Palace’s Christian Benteke scores their second goal
The Palace forward’s double now means that Benteke has scored more goals as a opponent at Anfield (five) than he managed as a Liverpool player (four) – but despite his heroics the Belgium international goal-getter did not monopolise the attention on Twitter in the aftermath of the game.
Whilst Benteke may well steal the headlines on Monday morning, it was Palace winger Andros Townsend who became the recipient of significant praise on the social media outlet shortly after the full time whistle – with supporters of clubs other than Palace quick to heap credit towards the 13-time-capped England international winger.
Liverpool’s Georginio Wijnaldum in action with Crystal Palace’s Andros Townsend
In addition to the jubilant Twitter reaction from fans of the Eagles towards Townsend, supporters of West Ham United, former club Newcastle United and even Arsenal – North London rivals of Townsend’s past employers Tottenham Hotspur – felt a necessity to emphasise the impact that the 25-year-old had on Palace’s fightback victory against Liverpool.
Here is a taste of the response on Twitter to Andros Townsend’s display at Anfield as the winger helped Crystal Palace to a superb 2-1 win at Anfield:
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