Substitute David Thompson scored his first senior goal for Liverpool to salvage a victory the Anfield side looked to have thrown away.

Battling Palace were just five minutes from an unlikely point when the 20-year-old from Birkenhead struck.

He had only been on the pitch for 13 minutes but his fresh legs took him into the six-yard box to slide home a goal that broke Palace's hearts.

The South Londoners had fallen behind in the first half to Oyvind Leonhardsen, but when the home side sat back in the second period they invited trouble, and it came when Marcus Bent equalised.

Only then did Liverpool, no doubt weary from their commendable efforts to hold Manchester United with 10 men on Good Friday, produce enough urgency to grab a victory that keeps them faintly in the hunt for a place in the Champions' League.

Palace were expected to be cannon fodder, but they grew in confidence and in those dying minutes laid siege to Liverpool's goal in search of a dramatic equaliser.

Palace were quick and confident, and had £1million youngster Matt Jansen in impressive form.

The former Carlisle forward, who turned down Manchester United to go to Selhurst Park, attacked Steve Harkness with relish and showed the sort of control and pace that more than explained the interest from Old Trafford.

Palace, showing five changes from the side that lost at home to Leicester on Saturday, carved out two good early chances.

After two minutes Bent got away from Rob Jones down the left and cut in to fire a fierce low drive that Brad Friedel scrambled round the near post.

Jansen then set up another great opening in the 14th minute, heading down a Neil Shipperley cross for Bent to volley over the bar.

Harkness left Jansen on his backside with a crunching tackle, and after 25 minutes was booked for cutting down Tomas Brolin on the halfway line. Hisfrustration was there for all to see.

Liverpool looked lethargic, clearly suffering from the muscle-sapping heroics that had seen them hold Manchester United on Good Friday.

But after 16 minutes they put together an excellent move that saw Steve McManaman fire in a low cross from the left, Rob Jones belted in a drive and Leonhardsen touched it on only to see Kevin Miller turn the close-range effort onto the bar.

Simon Rodger had started the game as McManaman's shadow, but when the England man switched to a position wide on the left, the Palace man abandoned the tactic, and the danger signs were already flashing for Palace.

Liverpool had upped their tempo and after 24 minutes they went ahead.

McManaman got away on the left again and cracked in a cross that found Leonhardsen unmarked and powering in on the far post. The little Norwegian controlled the ball on the run and lashed it past a helpless Miller from six yards.

Palace had looked incapable of worrying Brad Friedel, but they accepted the initiative that Liverpool were handing to them and went at the home side.

It produced an equaliser after 73 minutes when Rodger lifted a ball beyond the far post and Bent somehow hooked it back over Friedel an just inside the far post.

The goal stunned Liverpool, and Murphy, tiring after his fine display at Old Trafford, was taken off to be replaced by Thompson.

Liverpool pulled themselves together and fought for the winner, and Miller made excellent saves from McManaman and Owen.

With five minutes to go Liverpool forced themselves back in front against a side who were looking to be heading to a vital point.

McManaman blazed down the right and drilled over a low centre that Thompson slid home from inside the six yard box.

Teams

Liverpool: Friedel, Jones, Matteo, Babb, Harkness (Kvarme 63), McManaman, Redknapp, Ince, Leonhardsen, Owen, Murphy (Thompson 74).

Subs Not Used: James, Berger, Carragher.

Booked: Harkness.

Goals: Leonhardsen 29, Thompson 85.

Crystal Palace: Miller, Edworthy, Lombardo, Warhurst, Shipperley, Brolin (Curcic 76), Rodger, Bent, Hreidarsson, Fullarton (Gordon 63), Jansen.

Subs Not Used: Padovano, Nash, Ismael.

Booked: Lombardo.

Goals: Bent 72.

Att: 43,007

Ref: G P Barber (Pyrford).