Liverpool may not win the title this season but they continue to play like champions – not necessarily in terms of performance, for this was another unconvincing showing away from home by Jürgen Klopp’s men, but undeniably in their refusal to give up on victory.

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Time was running out and this game appeared set to end in a 1-1 draw after Wilfried Zaha equalised for Crystal Palace in the 82nd minute. The hosts had been the better side and did not deserve to have fallen behind to Sadio Mané’s goal just after the break. They had also been somewhat harshly denied a first-half lead after VAR intervened to rule out a header by James Tomkins. Justice, therefore, appeared to be done. But with five minutes left Liverpool did what they so often do: score late. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner was not cleared by a gang of Palace players and, as the ball spilled free, Roberto Firmino was on hand to send it into the net.

It is now 30 league games without defeat for Liverpool, who remain eight points clear of the chasing pack. But as the leaders returned to Merseyside on Saturday night they may well have reflected on how they did here. For they were ragged at the back, lacklustre in midfield and disjointed in attack. Mohamed Salah’s absence was undeniably a factor in regards to the latter – the Egyptian was an unused substitute having failed to recover from an ankle injury – but not in other regards. A wider concern should be how this contest felt so similar to Liverpool’s previous three on the road, at Sheffield United, Manchester United and Aston Villa. On each occasion Klopp’s men were below par and on each occasion they just about rescued the situation.

Not that the German was overly concerned, making the point that, while his team were “not brilliant” here, there were mitigating circumstances – namely the late return of some of his players from international duty – and that, overall, they did well.

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“I’m not surprised it was a tough game,” he said. “Our other games against Palace since I’ve been in England have been similar. In a game like this you have to make sure you fight for the result and that is what we did. Could we play better? Yes, but 37 points after 13 matches is exceptional.”

That much is true and, for sure, there is no denying the spirit Liverpool yet again showed against arguably their toughest opponents of the season. Palace were well organised and aggressive out of possession and, when they had it, looked to stretch the visitors, with Zaha and Andros Townsend menaces on each wing.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest VAR ruled out a goal from James Tomkins before the break. Photograph: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

As Klopp also said, the hosts were a threat from set pieces and that is how they appeared to have taken the lead on 42 minutes after Tomkins sent Luka Milivojević’s free-kick into the net with a header via Georginio Wijnaldum’s diverted touch. There appeared nothing wrong with the goal but soon the referee, Kevin Friend, had his finger to his ear and eventually the verdict from Chris Kavanagh, the VAR at Stockley Park, arrived: no goal.

Kavanagh made the call on the basis of a push by Jordan Ayew on Dejan Lovren. There was definite contact but it had no impact on the goal given Wijnaldum was standing in front of the pair when he made his crucial touch. Little wonder the home fans made their feelings on it clear amid a chorus of moans and groans.

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Things got worse for Palace when Mané scored for the fifth consecutive game against them after his reaction shot landed in the net after clipping both posts. That could have been the cue for the home side to wilt but instead they roared back. Townsend and Jeffrey Schlupp both forced the Liverpool goalkeeper, Alisson, into saves before Christian Benteke went close with a wonderful scissor kick. The pressure was building and, on 82 minutes, it finally told when Zaha fired low into the corner for his first goal of the season. That appeared to be that but Liverpool kept probing, kept pushing forward, kept believing they could win. And they did.

“Close but no cigar,” said Roy Hodgson, before going on to say he had no issue with the VAR call. “There was a push by Jordan and ultimately it’s a shame we didn’t get something from what was our best display of the season.”