Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah both scored twice as Liverpool hit seven past Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to go six points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Firmino, Salah, Takumi Minamino, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson were all on the scoresheet as the champions overwhelmed Roy Hodgson’s side with a stunning away performance.
Liverpool raced into the lead in the third minute as Mane set up Minamino, who coolly found the bottom corner.
And the Senegal international then doubled the advantage in the 35th minute after a superb turn, before Firmino tapped home to round off a brilliant counter-attack on the stroke of half-time.
Captain Henderson curled in a fourth just after the restart before Firmino added his second after good work from Salah.
Salah headed home a sixth with nine minutes remaining, before doubling his personal tally with a brilliant individual effort moments later.
The Egyptian forward rounded off a brilliant team performance, as a scintillating Liverpool ensured they would be top at Christmas for the third consecutive season.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Crystal Palace
- 31Guaita
- 17ClyneBooked at 45mins
- 8KouyatéSubstituted forTomkinsat 63′minutes
- 24Cahill
- 3van Aanholt
- 15Schlupp
- 4Milivojevic
- 18McArthurSubstituted forRiedewaldat 75′minutes
- 25EzeSubstituted forBatshuayiat 69′minutes
- 11Zaha
- 9J Ayew
Substitutes
- 1Butland
- 2Ward
- 5Tomkins
- 6Dann
- 10Townsend
- 22McCarthy
- 23Batshuayi
- 27Mitchell
- 44Riedewald
Liverpool
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-Arnold
- 32Matip
- 3Fabinho
- 26Robertson
- 8Keita
- 14Henderson
- 5WijnaldumSubstituted forJonesat 69′minutes
- 10ManéSubstituted forSalahat 57′minutes
- 9FirminoSubstituted forOxlade-Chamberlainat 75′minutes
- 18Minamino
Substitutes
- 11Salah
- 13Adrián
- 15Oxlade-Chamberlain
- 17Jones
- 27Origi
- 46R Williams
- 47Phillips
- 62Kelleher
- 76N Williams
Live Text
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Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Liverpool 7.
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Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Liverpool 7.
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Offside, Crystal Palace. Vicente Guaita tries a through ball, but Gary Cahill is caught offside.
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Offside, Crystal Palace. Patrick van Aanholt tries a through ball, but Michy Batshuayi is caught offside.
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Goal! Crystal Palace 0, Liverpool 7. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
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Goal! Crystal Palace 0, Liverpool 6. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Joel Matip following a corner.
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Attempt blocked. Joel Matip (Liverpool) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Trent Alexander-Arnold with a cross.
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Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by James Tomkins.
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Offside, Crystal Palace. Patrick van Aanholt tries a through ball, but Gary Cahill is caught offside.
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Foul by Curtis Jones (Liverpool).
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Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Substitution, Liverpool. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Roberto Firmino.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jairo Riedewald replaces James McArthur.
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Offside, Crystal Palace. Patrick van Aanholt tries a through ball, but Michy Batshuayi is caught offside.
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Curtis Jones (Liverpool) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by James McArthur (Crystal Palace).
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Substitution, Liverpool. Curtis Jones replaces Georginio Wijnaldum.
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Substitution, Crystal Palace. Michy Batshuayi replaces Eberechi Eze.
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Goal! Crystal Palace 0, Liverpool 5. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mohamed Salah following a fast break.
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Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Article courtesy of BBC Sport
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