You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

How times have changed since Brendan Rodgers’ last visit to Selhurst Park.

Twelve weeks ago the drenched Liverpool boss headed for the away dressing room with much to ponder.

The Reds had gone to south London on a mission to exorcise the demons of their previous visit in May when their title dream died on a night of heartbreak in the capital.

Instead they served up more of the same with a spineless late capitulation. Beaten 3-1 with the wounds self-inflicted, a season of struggle had plumbed new depths.

Rodgers found himself in the eye of the storm. After four successive defeats, the pressure was growing on the Northern Irishman.

Fourteen points from 12 games represented Liverpool’s worst start to a season since 1992/93. They were closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

Talk of an Anfield crisis was rife. Despite Rodgers having been crowned Manager of the Year by his peers just six months earlier, a small but vocal minority were demanding change.

Critics were having a field day and history was being quickly rewritten in the rush to stick the boot in.

The argument went that Rodgers had been found out. That Liverpool’s most thrilling title challenge for more than two decades had been all down to the attacking brilliance of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge. And that without them, Rodgers was sinking, fast.

The previous summer’s £116million spending spree was supposed to have filled the Suarez void but the club’s transfer business was coming under increased scrutiny.

On that dismal November afternoon, Dejan Lovren had a nightmare, Javier Manquillo struggled and Adam Lallana was taken off. Emre Can made no impact after coming off the bench, while Alberto Moreno and Lazar Markovic weren’t even called upon.

Rickie Lambert opened the scoring with his first goal for the club but that ray of light was soon snuffed out by the torrent of negativity which followed.

Belief had ebbed away – epitomised by Palace’s second with Simon Mignolet slamming a free-kick straight out of play and Yannick Bolasie then leaving Lovren on his backside before teeing up Joe Ledley. Philippe Coutinho had gone missing and Raheem Sterling’s flying start to the campaign was becoming a distant memory.

The problems for Rodgers just kept stacking up. Liverpool were a soft touch defensively and toothless going forward.

It was sink or swim and the manager burned the midnight oil as he urgently sought the solutions. From the wreckage of that defeat to Palace a revival began.

Initially, progress was slow as Rodgers focused his energies on making Liverpool more resilient. But in the wake of defeat at Old Trafford they kicked on.

The tactical switch to a 3-4-2-1 formation enabled Liverpool to regain both their identity and their swagger. Turning Raheem Sterling into a central striker proved inspired as his pace gave Liverpool the kind of energy and intensity they had been lacking at the top end of the field. It also unlocked the creative spark of Coutinho.

No longer is anyone bemoaning the absence of a defensive coach with Can and Mamadou Sakho having shone in a three-man backline. New boys Moreno and Markovic have made their mark as wing-backs, while the transformation in Mignolet has been remarkable.

Rodgers has once again proved his coaching credentials and man-management skills by improving and developing young talent.

Tuesday’s victory over Tottenham felt like a big step forward for this Liverpool side, who have lost just once in 15 games. This run had previously lacked a significant scalp.

Four points off the top four, the Reds will attempt to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at Selhurst Park tonight.

A season has been revived and Rodgers returns to the scene of his darkest hour having made a mockery of those who argued his Anfield reign was in irretrievable decline.

Toure back playing for his future

Kolo Toure has picked up a windfall following his historic triumph with the Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.

The Liverpool defender’s beaming smile lit up the celebrations after the dramatic final against Ghana in Bata, Equatorial Guinea last Sunday which saw the Elephants prevail 9-8 on penalties. Toure played his part with an ice-cool spot-kick in the shootout.

It was the first time Ivory Coast have won the tournament since 1992 and it was the perfect finale to Toure’s international career.

Ivorian president Alassana Ouattara decided to mark the achievement by giving everyone in the 23-man squad a house worth £34,000, and the same amount in cash.

Toure was given some extended leave by Liverpool to enable him to savour a parade in his homeland.

The 33-year-old is expected back at Melwood on Monday.

His next challenge will be to force his way back into Brendan Rodgers’ side. In his absence Emre Can, Martin Skrtel and Mamadou Sakho have formed a rock-solid backline with £20million Dejan Lovren having to bide his time.

Out of contract this summer, Toure will be playing for his future over the coming months.

Leto facing long rehab after freak accident

Former Liverpool midfielder Sebastian Leto is facing a long rehabilitation programme after suffering a fractured skull in a freak accident in the gym.

The 28-year-old Argentinian, who only returned to play for Lanus in his homeland last week on loan from Italian club Catania, was omitted to intensive care this week after being struck on the head by a piece of weight lifting equipment.

Reports in Argentina suggest he will be ruled out of action for around four to six months.

Leto made just four appearances for Liverpool following his £1.8million move to Anfield from Lanus in 2007. Problems with securing a work permit led to him being off-loaded to Olympiacos on loan after just 12 months.

He joined Panathinaikos on a permanent deal in 2009 for around £3million and soon secured hero status as he bagged the winner in the Greek Cup final.

Leto signed for Sicilian club Catania in 2013 before recently heading back to his boyhood club. Thankfully, a hospital spokesman in Buenos Aires has described his condition as “good with stable life signs”.