Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Liverpool 0.
Liverpool's hopes of securing Champions League football were dealt a blow as an error-strewn display against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park ended in stalemate.
Jurgen Klopp's side - humbled by Real Madrid at Anfield in midweek - are six points behind fourth-placed Tottenham after failing to break down a Palace side who remain without a win in 2023.
Diogo Jota and Mohamed Salah both hit the woodwork but Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta also struck the crossbar and Patrick Vieira's side were well worth their point.
The Eagles now have one win in 11 games after labouring to a draw that leaves them six points above the relegation zone with a testing series of games in March to come.
When asked at the post-match media conference about his team's modest display, Klopp replied: "I see it in your eyes and in the players' eyes as well. It looks like we lost the game - we didn't.
"We've spoiled ourselves with a lot of things, but we cannot suffer because of our own history. That would really be a joke.
"This will not be the season in the history books that people want to look at again and again and again.
"There will not be big movies about it, but we have to go through it anyway."
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Sloppy Reds a shadow of former selves
"It's clear that we have to do something in the summer. For now, we just have to go through this."
If the pre-match words from Klopp were intended to motivate his players, a poor first-half showing suggested merely 'getting through' the rest of the season may well be the limit of Liverpool's remaining ambitions.
Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold twice allowed Palace's misfiring attackers in on goal with elementary errors while Joel Matip also sliced the ball horribly to an opponent when under no pressure.
Alexander-Arnold, while not alone in his indifferent performance, lost possession 20 times in a first 45 minutes at Selhurst Park that left much to be desired.
At the other end Jota, in his first start since October following a long injury lay-off, did at least test Vicente Guaita before heading against the post from an improbable angle.
Liverpool improved after the half-time introduction of Harvey Elliott and Salah was unlucky to see a fine curling strike come back off the crossbar.
Cody Gakpo dinked a shot narrowly wide after being put through by Salah but that was Liverpool's final thrust as Palace ended the match on top.
Palace still searching for win
Without a win in eight games since New Year's Eve, Palace have stalled in the Premier League and did not have a single shot on target against Liverpool.
Badly missing the spark of the injured Wilfried Zaha, the hosts saw Mateta waste their best chance when he scooped against the bar after one of Alexander-Arnold's errors.
Captain Marc Guehi also headed a good opportunity wide before an improved showing in the final 20 minutes roused their famously vociferous support.
A minute's applause in the 77th minute marked this week's death of BBC legend John Motson, whose final Match of the Day commentary took place at Selhurst Park in 2018.
The point means Palace will remain wary of getting sucked into a relegation battle, with tough-looking matches against champions Manchester City, rivals Brighton and leaders Arsenal coming up in March.
Line-ups
Crystal Palace
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Guaita
- 17ClyneBooked at 26mins
- 16AndersenBooked at 90mins
- 6Guéhi
- 3Mitchell
- 28Doucouré
- 8Sambi Lokonga
- 7Olise
- 9J Ayew
- 15SchluppSubstituted forEzeat 71'minutes
- 14MatetaSubstituted forÉdouardat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 2Ward
- 4Milivojevic
- 10Eze
- 18McArthur
- 19Hughes
- 22Édouard
- 26Richards
- 29Ahamada
- 41Whitworth
Liverpool
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Alisson
- 66Alexander-ArnoldSubstituted forFabinhoat 71'minutesBooked at 77mins
- 32MatipBooked at 82mins
- 4van Dijk
- 26RobertsonBooked at 90mins
- 8KeïtaBooked at 23minsSubstituted forElliottat 45'minutes
- 14HendersonBooked at 67mins
- 7Milner
- 11Salah
- 18GakpoSubstituted forBajceticat 84'minutes
- 20JotaSubstituted forFirminoat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Fabinho
- 9Firmino
- 17Jones
- 19Elliott
- 21Tsimikas
- 28Carvalho
- 43Bajcetic
- 46R Williams
- 62Kelleher
- Referee:
- Darren England
- Attendance:
- 25,842
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home36%
- Away64%
- Shots
- Home6
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home0
- Away4
- Corners
- Home5
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away14
Live Text
Post update
Booking
Joachim Andersen (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card.
Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Liverpool 0.
Post update
Corner, Crystal Palace. Conceded by Joël Matip.
Booking
Andrew Robertson (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card.
Post update
Foul by Andrew Robertson (Liverpool).
Post update
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Fabinho (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Foul by Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace).
Post update
Offside, Crystal Palace. Cheick Oumar Doucouré tries a through ball, but Odsonne Édouard is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Liverpool. Stefan Bajcetic replaces Cody Gakpo.
Booking
Joël Matip (Liverpool) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Joël Matip (Liverpool).
Post update
Odsonne Édouard (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Cody Gakpo (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Mohamed Salah with a through ball.
Post update
Offside, Liverpool. James Milner tries a through ball, but Mohamed Salah is caught offside.
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Comments
Join the conversation
This Liverpool side are becoming an embarrassment
Oh, dear, how sad, never mind......
...at least you've got Eurovision to look forward to !
😄 🤣
Still signing BELLINGHAM & MBAPPE this summer 🤪😝😂👊🔥
Klopp is a genius
Every player is World Class
Every season the Ballon d'Or has at least one of their players' names on it.
Their first and only PL title* was going to be the beginning of total dominance for years to come.
How's that going?
Never get back !