LONDON: Liverpool virtually threw away their chance of winning the Premier League in dramatic fashion when they blew a three-goal lead at Crystal Palace.

With favourites Manchester City having won at Everton on Saturday, Brendan Rodgers’s men needed all three points at Selhurst Park to maintain a realistic chance of ending their 24-year wait for a league crown.

Liverpool now hold only a one-point advantage at the top of the table while City have a game in hand at home to Aston Villa on Wednesday night and a superior goal difference.

Rodgers conceded: “There is no doubt Manchester City will go on and win it. We needed to win to keep the pressure on going into the last game and we did not do that.”

Joe Allen’s first Liverpool goal was enough to give the Reds a half-time lead, with fit-again Daniel Sturridge and double player of the year Luis Suarez scoring in two early second-half minutes.

But Palace, supported by an optimistic home crowd, battled back.

Damien Delaney’s first goal of the season started the charge before Substitute Dwight Gayle took centre stage, scoring twice as Palace grabbed three in nine incredible minutes.

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