Steven Gerrard clips a free-kick deep into the Palace box, but Brede Hangeland, on for Damien Delaney, holds off Martin Skrtel and the hosts break with intent.

Yannick Bolasie inevitably is at the heart of it, swapping passes with Jason Puncheon, before Javier Manquillo dives in to deflect his goal-bound effort over the top.

Dominic O'Caollai:, external How do Liverpool go into away games without Lucas?? Steven Gerrard is too slow and cannot track a runner to be in defensive midfield alone! Ridiculous.

Kuni Poonasamy:, external No width in Liverpool game. Take Coutinho off bring Can on. Need to boss the middle more.

Thelee Ban:, external Get some muscle in the midfield Liverpool and put on Emre Can.

Liverpool are building some pressure without ever forcing Julian Speroni to dirty his gloves.

Raheem Sterling stabs a cross against the hand of Martin Kelly at point blank range, but referee Jon Moss is not having any of it.

Then Steven Gerrard rolls back the years as he throws every ounce into a shot from 30 yards. It flies just over the top.

Rickie Lambert ghosts to the back post, Joe Allen reads his intentions and serves up a dolly of a cross, but the Liverpool striker cannot get any angle on a header which flops tamely wide.

Image source, Getty Images

Almost very nice from Liverpool, but Philippe Countinho's disguised pass to Adam Lallana fails on two counts.

The ball just escapes Lallana's stretching first touch, while the linesman's flag was up anyway.

BBC Radio London 94.9

Former QPR striker Bradley Allen: "A good save from Simon Mignolet, and in these conditions you may as well have a shot from distance so expect Yannick Bolasie to have a pop again if he gets into a good position."

Yep, he is definitely in the mood.

Palace's Yannick Bolasie warms Simon Mignolet's hands with a skidding effort from 20 yards after twisting and turning Javier Manquillo down the Palace left.

The Palace pressing game is making it hard for Liverpool to find space. Rickie Lambert's height though gives them more old-school options and the big striker should do better when Steven Gerrard arrows a free-kick onto his forehead.

His header flies over from little more than five yards out.

There is a distinct height difference in the two midfields. At the moment, Philippe Coutinho, Raheem Sterling and Adam Lallana are getting muscled out of things by the taller Mile Jedinak and Joe Ledley.

Yannick Bolasie, in the words of the man to my left, is "on one today". The Palace winger, buoyed by his role in Palace's goal, is demanding the ball and running at the Liverpool defence.

He is a menace on his day. And this might be one of those days.

Image source, Reuters

Ross Gordon:, external Did Martin Skrtel leave his head in the dressing room? Too slow.

Ashley Williams:, external Skrtel didn't follow the rebound. Looks slow and off the pace.

Patrick Wall:, external How does Dejan Lovren keep getting games? Decision making and placement are woeful and Skrtel isn't much better.

BBC Radio London 94.9

Former QPR striker Bradley Allen: "I think Dwight Gayle is the lucky charm against Liverpool! Goal poachers like Gayle follow those chances in and put them away. People wonder why he doesn't play more, and I think he's maybe the kind of player who has suffered from teams not playing two strikers up front."

Image source, Getty Images

No prizes for guessing the identity of Palace's scorer. Dwight Gayle has his fourth in two and a bit games against Liverpool as he reacts quickest to get to the loose ball after Yannick Bolasie's low shot came back off the post.

Gayle sorted his feet well to side-foot the ball against the helpless Simon Mignolet and into the net.

Image source, AFP

Ryan Cowie:, external Dream come true for Lambert! Well done Rickie - patience does pay off sometimes.

Vinny Person:, external Mario Balotelli's surname sounds more exciting than Lambert, plus he costs more, so I suppose that's why Lambert preferred him for so long.

Teme Akl:, external The face of Lambert after he scores for says a lot! Point proved!

Image source, PA

Takes some getting your heads around that stat. But it is basically good news for the visitors.

Joe Ledley gets in a crucial interception as Javier Manquillo bursts down the left and in behind. Martin Kelly is keen to make amends after he was caught out for the opener, but a horrible high punt over is not the way to do it. That was Palace's first effort at goal.

Joe Allen is back on the pitch by the way. It looks like someone has fashioned a tight-fitting hat out of a pair of old tights to protect his head wound. Mario wouldn't be seen dead in it.

BBC Radio London 94.9

Former QPR striker Bradley Allen: "The early goal has given Liverpool a lift. They are looking good. Palace don't know whether to stick or twist. If they go for it now and Liverpool punish them on the counter attack it could be a long afternoon. Neil Warnock may want to keep it tight until half-time then have a go at the back end of the second half if the deficit is still only one goal."

Joe Allen has trotted to the sidelines for treatment. No-one is going to begrudge him a minute with the physio.

The Welshman has cut the top of his head and his shirt is splattered with claret. The running repairs are continuing.

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have kept a clean sheet just twice this season. They might need more of that Saints' old boys magic.

The visitors have looked bright though with Philippe Coutinho getting time on the ball and buzzing busily.