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MATCH ZONE
Don't bother telling anyone. They won't believe you.
In ten minutes at Selhurst Park, Liverpool lost a three goal lead and, probably, the title.
Dwight Gayle's 87th minute goal puts Manchester City in the box seat and leaves Liverpool - well, where, after this?
There is nothing left for them to do now but play to their strengths. Attack, attack, attack, as their fans implore.
They certainly can't defend.
Against a Crystal Palace team that has been the model of resilience under Tony Pulis, they were coasting and had closed the goal difference gap on Manchester City to six. Then the roof
fell in.
fell in.
Bawling: Steven Gerrard tends to an inconsolable Luis Suarez after the final whistle
Can't even look: Reds talisman Suarez breaks down after his side shipped a 3-0 lead
Out the way: Gerrard points a camera away from the dejected Suarez
MATCH FACTS
CRYSTAL PALACE Speroni 6; Mariappa 5, Delaney 6, Dann 6, Ward 6; Jedinak 5, Dikgacoi 5; Bolasie 6, Ledley 5, Puncheon 5 (Gayle 65, 7); Chamakh 5 (Murray 71, 6).
Speroni 6; Mariappa 5, Delaney 6, Dann 6, Ward 6; Jedinak 5, Dikgacoi 5; Bolasie 6, Ledley 5, Puncheon 5 (Gayle 65, 7); Chamakh 5 (Murray 71, 6).
Booked: Dann, Mariappa.
Goals: Delaney 79, Gayle 81, 88
Manager: Tony Pulis 6.
LIVERPOOL Mignolet 6; Johnson 6, Skrtel 6, Sakho 6, Flanagan 6; Gerrard 6, Allen 7, Leiva 6; Sterling 7 (Coutinho 78, 6), Suarez 8, Sturridge 7.
Booked: Allen, Suarez, Skrtel.
Goals: Allen 18, Sturridge 53, Suarez 55
Manager: Brendan Rodgers 7.
Referee: Mark Clattenburg 7.
Ratings from DOMINIC KING at Selhurst Park
By the final whistle, Rodgers had a face like thunder and some of the travelling support were fighting back watery emotions.
Luis Suarez was almost smiling at first, a hysterical reaction to one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game. Reality hit on the final whistle and he hid his face, inconsolable, distraught. Steven Gerrard waved prying cameras away from his heartbroken team-mate.
Now, Liverpool can only wait for the rivals to blink. It may not be enough, Liverpool have blinked first. This morning they blink back tears.
An unlikely headed goal from a set-piece by Joe Allen, a deflected shot from Daniel Sturridge and a lovely one-two completed by Luis Suarez did the initial damage, but Liverpool can now only hope City suffer an even geater collapse.
They had to win here and their collapse was as sudden as it was mystifying. "Three-nil and you f***ed it up," sang the home fans. Unbearably harsh, but true.
here and their collapse was as sudden as it was mystifying. "Three-nil and you f***ed it up," sang the home fans. Unbearably harsh, but true.
Forget the idea that Palace's season was over. Tony Pulis sends out competitive teams at every stage of the season and Liverpool took the lead here because they were better, not because the opposition did them a favour.
In action: Goalscorer Joe Allen (left) tries to win the ball from Palace striker Marouane Chamakh
striker Marouane Chamakh
Amazing: Gayle celebrates with Yannick Bolasie, sparking roaring scenes at Selhurst Park
No avail: Palace keeper Julian Speroni can't stretch to stop Daniel Sturridge's goal for Liverpool's second
keeper Julian Speroni can't stretch to stop Daniel Sturridge's goal for Liverpool's second
The last ten minutes proved that. Three goals down, their campaign petering out, Palace struck back with unbelievable venom. This really has been a remarkable season.
What at first appeared to be mere consolation came in the 80th minute when a shot from Damien Delaney clipped Glen Johnson and edged clear of Simon Mignolet's despairing grasp.
What turned drama into crisis for Liverpool came with a break from Yannick Bolasie two minutes later, and a square pass fed perfectly to substitute Dwight Gayle for the second.
By the end, Liverpool were clinging on. Not hard enough. Glenn Murray chested the ball onto Gayle and his low finished left Mignolet no chance. Liverpool fell to the floor, defeated.
. Liverpool fell to the floor, defeated.
It should have been so different.
Battle: Glen Johnson (left) challenges Palace winger Yannick Bolasie
winger Yannick Bolasie
Punched away: Simon Mignolet rises above a crowd of players to get the ball clear
Iconic: Suarez celebrates match Alan Shearer and Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 31 goals in a season
The game was 18 minutes old when a shot from Sturridge was steered wide off the head of defender Damien Delaney. From the resulting corner, Steven Gerrard picked out Joe Allen, one of the smallest players on the pitch, unmarked at the far post to head his first league goal for Liverpool.
It was a simple finish, but a significant one, and Allen did brilliantly to lose is marker Joe Ledley, who should have got tighter rather than just try to manhandle his opponent.
This modern method of grappling is no replacing for good old fashioned defending and by the time the ball arrived Allen had enough space to erect a tent let alone head a goal.
Incredible: Palace fans ensured there was a colourful backdrop to the game with this European-style 'tifo'
fans ensured there was a colourful backdrop to the game with this European-style 'tifo'
England expects: Liverpool's Raheem Sterling flies down the wing
Head down: Martin Skrtel joins his team-mates in utter despair after the final whistle
REMAINING GAMES
Manchester City
Aston Villa (H) May 7
West Ham (H) May 11
Aston Villa (H) May 7
West Ham (H) May 11
Liverpool
Newcastle (H) May 11
Newcastle (H) May 11
Chelsea
Cardiff (A) May 11
Cardiff (A) May 11
Liverpool have been the best attacking force in the Premier League this season and in the space of two second-half minutes they thought the game was won.
In the 54th minute a long pass from Gerrard, the momentous strain of this title race seemingly etched in every line on his face, picked out Sturridge, who cut inside and ran adjacent to goal before finishing with a low shot that defeated goalkeeper Julian Speroni, having taken a slight deflection.
Liverpool saved the best to last. Mamadou Sakho's upfield ball was no more than hopeful but Suarez tried to let it run with a dummy, rode his luck with a little ticker off the defender, and then played a lovely one two with Sterling, slotting the ball past Simon Mignolet.
It's on: Suarez rushes back to the halfway line after netting Liverpool's third goal
Strike a pose: Daniel Sturridge hits home for Liverpool's second goal at Selhurst Park
The boss: Brendan Rodgers offers his side instructions from the Selhurst Park dugout
his side instructions from the Selhurst Park dugout
Starting the comeback: Simon Mignolet doesn't reach Damien Delaney's goal for Palace
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