Crystal Palace 3 Liverpool 1: Brendan Rodgers' side haunted by goals from Dwight Gayle, Joe Ledley and Mile Jedinak Like last May, Liverpool were first to show. Mario Balotelli's absence with a groin injury gave Lambert his chance - long overdue - and he certainly took it, scoring within two minutes. It carried echoes from last season, echoes from St Mary's. Adam Lallana looked up and drove a beautiful ball from right to left over the top for Lambert, who was already on the move, already anticipating Lallana's intentions. Timing his run to get ahead of Martin Kelly, Lambert controlled the ball elegantly before calmly placing it past Julián Speroni. The 32-year-old England international turned away smiling and was soon mobbed by his team-mates, Gerrard leading the charge to congratulate the popular No 9. Lambert's own celebration spoke of his delight at being finally given a proper opportunity and also reflecting his deep affinity with the club from his boyhood days in Kirkby. But Liverpool joy began to fade as Palace began to control midfield, the stronger pair of Mile Jedinak and Joe Ledley imposing themselves on Gerrard and company. Yannick Bolasie, such a terror against Liverpool in May, again started running at the visitors, especially after 17 minutes. Bolasie had only just returned from DR Congo duty against Sierra Leone but made light of the long flight and arduous game, frightening Liverpool. Rodgers" defenders did not appear to have been introduced to each other; there was no communication, no co-ordination. Johnson and Dejan Lovren were far too slow in reacting to Bolasie's surge. Gifted space, Bolasie let fly, his strike cannoning off Mignolet's right-hand upright. Now it was Skrtel being too sluggish. Gayle, by contrast, was so sharp, again showing the merits of following up shots as he coolly poached the equaliser. Gayle clearly loves playing against Liverpool; this was his fourth goal in three Premier League games against them. The former Peterborough United attacker was again a live wire against Liverpool, following up shots, linking with Bolasie, who continued to concern Rodgers" defence. Cutting in from the left, again given too much room to manoeuvre, Bolasie fired in a shot that Mignolet saw late but still managed to push away. Liverpool threatened as the half closed. Allen, now on his third shirt after blood from a head wound stained his yellow shirt red, lifted in a cross that Lambert headed wide. For all their 63% possession before the break, Liverpool were struggling to get Sterling involved, the youngster managing only 18 touches in the first half. When Sterling did arrive in a promising position, Kelly did well to shepherd his former team-mate down a cul-de-sac. Having escaped with pulling Gayle's shirt and stopping him breaking clear, Skrtel was finally cautioned for body-checking Marouane Chamakh. The Moroccan was then hauled down by Javier Manquillo so close to the area that the Palace fans in the Holmesdale Road home of noise screamed for a penalty. Jedinak's effort was then deflected over. Palace continued to press. Jedinak's shot was blocked by the hard-working Allen. Rodgers looked on, looking calm whatever his inner frustrations. Neil Warnock was far more animated, railing against refereeing injustices, real or imagined. Warnock was almost in orbit after 79 minutes when Palace seized the lead. Again, Liverpool's defence was poor. Lovren was totally deceived by Bolasie's juggling act, lifting the ball over the centre-half, and racing towards the box, Lovren left trailing. Bolasie cut the ball back perfectly for Ledley, who stroked it home from 15 yards. If Warnock's celebrations were wild then, the Palace manager reacted like a manic air guitarist when his side made it 3-1. Skrtel had fouled Gayle again, tugging his shirt, somehow escaping another yellow, but Jedinak punished Liverpool. Gayle was also pulling at Skrtel's shirt but the main perpetrator was clear. Jedinak's free-kick was wonderful, flying over the wall and in. Selhurst Park was shaking almost off its foundations by then.