Liverpool

You cannot miss that many chances and win football matches. It is not sustainable. In fact, against Crystal Palace, it verged on being ridiculous.

Luis Diaz forced an incredible save from Dean Henderson in the first half, but from that point onwards, the Palace keeper did not have to do anything.

Darwin Nunez whacked the ball at him from point-blank range. Diogo Jota hit a defender instead of passing into an empty net. Curtis Jones somehow missed the target when one-on-one and Mo Salah's late effort somehow hit a defender standing on the line.

There is an element of bad luck in there, but Liverpool simply had to score at least once, and probably twice, from the situations they created.

It was the same story the previous weekend at Manchester United. Top players missing sitters.

What more can Jurgen Klopp do? He is setting up his team to tactically outplay the opposition and forge countless big opportunities, but he cannot put the ball in the net for them.

Arsenal losing keeps Liverpool in it, but also shows what an enormous missed opportunity the past two Premier League matches have been.

If Liverpool do not win the title, we can no longer blame the refereeing decisions against Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City.

It will be our fault for the quality of finishing against United and Palace.

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Former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey feels "the pressure" could be affecting the Reds after recent defeats.

Jurgen Klopp's side suffered their second successive defeat at home when they lost 1-0 to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

With 21 shots in total, and six on target, it was another match in which the team failed to capitalise on a number of chances.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, Heskey said: "This is a common theme with Liverpool [their profligacy in front of goal]. We have seen it a lot, especially this season.

"We are so used to seeing Liverpool teams [in the past] creating a lot of chances, but also taking those chances as well. Now, they are not really taking those chances.

"These are not half chances, these are chances that should end up in goals. It's been tough for them to take.

"Jurgen [Klopp] did mention that the same players we are criticising are the same players who put them in this position so we can't really criticise them too much. But there were so many chances [on Sunday] that really they should have won that game."

Results at the weekend mean Liverpool, who had been second only on goal difference, drop to third in the table - two points behind new leaders Manchester City.

"You could say that this is the pressure [affecting Liverpool's players]," Heskey added.

"A lot of them haven't been in this position, but then you have got players like Salah, Robertson, Van Dijk - all these players who have been in this position and should know the pressure and how to deal with it by now. I can't really give that as an excuse."

Manchester United are showing an interest in Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres, but they fear Liverpool could scupper their chances of signing the 25-year-old Sweden striker. (HITC), external

The Reds can sign 22-year-old Sporting Lisbon and Portugal centre-back Goncalo Inacio for £40m. (Football Insider), external

Meanwhile, Liverpool have identified 23-year-old Sunderland and England Under-21 goalkeeper Anthony Patterson as a potential replacement for Caoimhin Kelleher. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

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When you get to the final part of the season one bad week can undo months of hard work - and Liverpool have just had a terrible week.

I actually thought their defensive performances have been a real strong point for them for large parts of this campaign, even though Alisson, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson have missed long spells of it through injury.

So, the past few days have been a big surprise in terms of how easily and how often they have been opened up, firstly by Atalanta in the Europa League and then by Crystal Palace.

They were misfiring in attack on Sunday too. Liverpool have fought back from losing positions to earn 27 points this season, but it was probably after they had missed their third sitter on Sunday that I started to think it was going to be one of those days for them when nothing goes in.

But, while it is true Liverpool missed some big chances, so did the Eagles. Jurgen Klopp's side were very open and I do not think they can complain about the result, even if it is a pretty devastating one for their title hopes.

This was Manchester City's weekend, but the top of the table is still extremely tight and I still think there are more twists to come in the title race.

To stay in it, Liverpool and Arsenal will have to pick themselves up quickly.

It looks a big ask for Klopp's side to rescue their Europa League quarter-final in Italy on Thursday, but they cannot afford to drop any more Premier League points when they face Fulham on Sunday.

Alan Shearer was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan.

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions on all things Premier League.

David asked: There's a lot of negativity from Liverpool and Arsenal supporters, saying the Premier League title is now Manchester City's. I disagree and think City will drop points – it only needs a draw and Arsenal or Liverpool could be back on top. What are your thoughts?

Phil answered: I do think we are looking back at a potentially decisive weekend given the results and City's track record in the title race, but you're absolutely right - there are only two points separating the top three.

Arsenal and Liverpool would have snapped your hand off for this position at the start of the season.

Manchester City have had just about the perfect weekend and they were two pretty demoralising home defeats for the Reds and the Gunners.

There is no way the title race is over - but the table has an ominous look.

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Liverpool fan and host of Redmen TV Dan Clubbe spoke on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about the Reds' two defeats in the last week: "It's been a catastrophic week really.

"I didn't look at this week's fixtures and think: 'Well, this is clearly where it could unravel.' There were fixtures further down the line that you look at and think they look treacherous.

"Two games at Anfield - it's become normalised how good we are at Anfield..

"Two performances that haven't been befitting of Liverpool. It's made all the worse by the fact we are romanticising Jurgen Klopp's departure and then this has just brought us back down to earth with a bang.

"It's about as painful as it gets but hopefully there are more twists and turns to come.

"We know what it's like to try to hunt the juggernaut that is Manchester City down. But we live in hope that City will drop some points somewhere."

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Former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker Emile Heskey believes Manchester City are now "in the driving seat" for the Premier League title.

Heading into the weekend, Pep Guardiola's side were third in the table - one point behind Arsenal and Liverpool.

But after a 5-1 win over relegation-battling Luton Town and surprise defeats by Crystal Palace for the Reds and Aston Villa for the Gunners, City now find themselves two points clear.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, Heskey said: "This is the reason why we love the Premier League, isn't it? There is that chance of an upset.

"No-one saw it coming, especially the Liverpool v Palace result. Villa [at Arsenal] is a little bit different - they are on a bit of a run and doing really well under Unai Emery.

"We know with his connections with Arsenal he will have got that team rallied up and got them going."

Despites six games still remaining for all three sides, many pundits and statisticians now place the defending champions as favourites to secure a fourth league title in a row.

"It's very hard [to see past Manchester City winning the title]," added Heskey. "Towards the end of the season you have got to be ruthless because you know Manchester City are going to be.

"When it comes to the end of the season they are always at it, always really putting the pressure on and always fighting. They are relentless, and if you are not relentless they are going to blow you away.

"Now they are in the driving seat I can not see them falling."

We asked for your views on Liverpool's defeat to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Here are some of your answers :

Liverpool fans

Debbie: Where was the pace and desire? Too much passing around the back , the few times they went with pace down the wing they were in! Didn’t do it often enough. Finishing in the games since we played United has also been poor.

Dan: It looked like we never left the dressing room in the first half. Too many holes in our defensive shape, no desire to win the ball back or press them. It was far to easy for Palace to pass between the lines. Second half was better but again no composure in front of goal, it felt rushed. We broke through a few times but poor decisions cost us.

Matthew: Absolutely poor performance. Letting them stand in the box alone to tap home their goal was schoolboy football. Jones has to take five touches even if one is needed and Salah is a shadow of his former self and doesn’t run in behind. A slow start again and some of them didn’t look like they wanted to be there.

Crystal Palace fans

Rich: Performances have been getting better and stamina improving. This was the best individual performance from our defenders in months, everyone was immense. Mateta was awesome and very unlucky not to have two goals. Wharton again showed class. What a crazy game though and Henderson was brilliant too.

Tony: It was a gutsy performance by Palace and in the second half we weathered a Liverpool onslaught. On another day it could have ended 3-3 given the chances missed by both teams. But Liverpool were off the pace in many respects and Palace took advantage. A wonderful result for the Eagles to ease their possible relegation fears.

Vivienne: Fabulous team performance. The manager must take credit. I watched the first team training at Selhurst Park this week. We could all see the hard work the team is putting in! And now it has paid off.

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Former Liverpool striker Natasha Dowie says "there has been no desire" from the players to keep clean sheets in recent weeks and it has resulted in dropping points.

"It is frustrating," said Dowie on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "We are conceding way too easily."

The Reds have not kept a clean sheet in the Premier League since the narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on 2 March.

"Having a good defence wins you titles," she added. "Overall this season, I think ours has been quite solid but in the last few weeks it has almost looked like last season. There has been no desire or no real heart to keep clean sheets.

"We know we have people who can score goals so why are we not trying to stay in the game by defending with pride?

"There is no composure or coolness in defence or attack. It has been a really rough week for Liverpool."

Listen to the Football Daily podcast on BBC Sounds

Jason Mohammad introduces highlights and analysis from Sunday's three Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, you can catch up on the action on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to Sunday's BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra match commentary in full:

Liverpool v Crystal Palace

West Ham United v Fulham

Arsenal v Aston Villa

Former Bayern Munich, Monaco and Wolfsburg coach Niko Kovac is emerging as a surprise name under consideration to succeed Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool boss. (Mail), external

Liverpool could sign 25-year-old English winger Marcus Edwards from Sporting Lisbon for £30m this summer. (Football Insider), external

Want more news? Read Monday's full gossip column

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As week's go, this is one that Liverpool will want to forget as quickly as possible.

Dreams of a Premier League title and lifting the Europa League trophy in Dublin as they wave Jurgen Klopp off into the sunset appear to have been dashed.

In their place, a seemingly more straightforward hope among the supporters might be that their side remembers how to finish the countless chances they continue to create.

Even in a poor first-half showing, in which their vulnerability suggested a hangover from the costly draw at Manchester United and 3-0 reverse at home to Atalanta, this still fashioned a couple of big opportunities.

In different circumstances, the number of chances they spurned as they turned the screw in the second half would almost have been comical.

No matter who in a red shirt the ball fell to, that final telling touch to put the ball in the net alluded them.

The pressure ramped up as the clocked ticked towards 90 minutes but the damage had been done in the first 45 where a lack of Liverpool conviction and cohesion was seized upon by Palace - who might easily have led by more at the break.

Such a performance cannot happen again. Perfection is required from here if Liverpool are to have any hope of recovering from this bruising week to win the title.

Jurgen Klopp spoke to BBC's Match of the Day after Liverpool's defeat to Crystal Palace: "The stats in the first half won't be as great as the stats in the second half. I think that was pretty obvious we didn't play a good first half. We wanted a reaction and we saw a reaction.

"It wasn't a fully convinced team on the pitch. It's a really difficult one. We weren't great. Crystal Palace had far too many football moments where we ran in the wrong direction.

"In more than 20 years when you watch my teams, the press and counter press is pretty good, some days it is outstanding. In the first half, it was nothing and then we were 1-0 down.

"Second half, we tried to change the formation and dynamic that wasn't tricky for Crystal Palace. You could stand here on another day and see the same balls go in and we're talking about a 4-1 win, but football doesn't work like that."

A hangover from the Atalanta defeat?: "I really don't know, I couldn't say that. I would say with the chances we had, we were really unlucky. What could Darwin do with his chance or Mo. Good defending from Mitchell. In the second half, Crystal Palace were lucky we didn't punish them but that's why we are stood here with no points and Crystal Palace have three."

• Crystal Palace ended a 13-game winless run in the Premier League against Liverpool (D2 L11), with this their first league win over the Reds since April 2017. Each of the Eagles’ past four league wins over Liverpool have been at Anfield.

• This was Liverpool’s first Premier League defeat at Anfield since October 2022 against Leeds; the Reds were unbeaten in 28 home league games prior to today (W22 D6).

• This was Crystal Palace’s first Premier League win away from home since November against Burnley, ending their 10-match winless run on the road (D4 L6).

• Liverpool have conceded the opening goal in four of their last five league games at Anfield – as many as their previous 22 beforehand. The Reds have now gone nine games without a home clean sheet in the Premier League, their joint-longest such run (also runs of 9 in December 1996 and May 1999).

• Eberechi Eze scored his 22nd Premier League goal for Crystal Palace, moving him joint-fifth for the club all-time in the competition (level with Jordan Ayew), behind only Wilfried Zaha (68), Christian Benteke (35), Luka Milivojevic (28), and Chris Armstrong (23).

Liverpool's Premier League title hopes suffered a huge blow as they fell to a 1-0 defeat by Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Eberechi Eze converted from Tyrick Mitchell's cut-back to finish off a flowing Palace move early on and the visitors were deservedly in front at the break.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds ramped up the pressure in the second half but, just as in recent games against Manchester United and Atalanta, their finishing let them down as they fell to their first home league defeat November 2022.

Defeat leaves Liverpool two points behind leaders Manchester City and level on points with Arsenal before the Gunners' game against Aston Villa later on Sunday (16:30 BST kick-off).

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