Liverpool took the spoils from a breathless six-goal encounter with Crystal Palace.

Emre Can originally handed the Reds the lead after strolling the ball home from an Alberto Moreno cross early in the first half.

That upper hand proved to be short-lived after a botched clearance by Dejan Lovren allowed James McArthur to head home, over an advancing Loris Karius.

The Croatian redeemed himself shortly after with a bullet header but that was later mirrored at the other end as McArthur struck again to pull Palace level.

Joel Matip helped Jurgen Klopp’s side ahead just before the interval while Roberto Firmino extended that advantage later in the second half.

Here were the key talking points from Selhurst Park…

Reds shape up nicely for City showdown

 

Put New Year’s Eve at Anfield down in your diary.

At this rate, Liverpool will be heading into that end-of-year encounter looking to set down a marker for the Premier League title battle with Manchester City.

Now unbeaten in all competitions across 11 matches, Jurgen Klopp’s side are looking firmly on course to sustain their latest bid for domestic glory.

There is no stopping the Reds in attack, with Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino orchestrating proceedings in tandem with a notable supporting cast.

It may still be nine weeks away but preparations for December 31 are already looking increasingly promising.

Coutinho gets better and better

 

The last time a Liverpool no.10 dazzled with such consistency, he was part of a team considered better than the Brazilians.

Less than 30 years on, Philippe Coutinho has surpassed John Barnes as the architect of a front line which appears to have endless possibilities.

Superlatives have often come easy when describing his abilities since originally arriving at Anfield in 2013 but the 24-year-old is excelling further.

Another man-of-the-match performance, at Selhurst Park, underlined why Liverpool are soon likely to be besieged by interest in their little magician.

His ability to unlock defences and provide inch-perfect deliveries, as he did for Joel Matip and Liverpool’s third, are more valuable than any transfer fee he can command.

Still no end in sight to Karius doubts

 

Perseverance may be key but for Loris Karius, it is proving to be purgatory.

Liverpool’s under-performing goalkeepers have a tendency to have a trademark; more often than not, it is flapping uncontrollably at a ball in mid-flight.

But the German took that flailing to a new level at Selhurst Park in attempting to remedy the mistake of Lovren’s sliced clearance in his own penalty area.

His response to McArthur looping header for Palace’s first equaliser would not have looked out of place in a Halloween house of horrors.

Rarely has a top-flight goalkeeper attempted to stop a goal bound attempt with his hands down by his sides in the same manner as Karius.

Unfortunately it has been a recurring theme throughout his early Liverpool career and, worryingly, one which appears to have no end in sight just yet.

Moreno on the road to redemption

 

Impressing against a half-strength Tottenham was never going to convince Klopp that Alberto Moreno truly deserved an extended first-team run.

But the Spaniard’s performance did enough to afford him the go-ahead for a first Premier League start of the season in the absence of James Milner.

Although the midfielder can be fully expected to return in time for next weekend’s visit of Watford, Moreno did his future prospects little harm again.

Teeing up Emre Can with an incisive pass illustrated his attacking prowess while he did not fail to cover himself in glory in defence for the best part.

He had made more headed clearances during the first half at Selhurst Park than the combined centre-back pairing of Lovren and Joel Matip.

There is still a long way to go in his Anfield road to redemption but this past week has been an encouraging start to those proceedings.