Liverpool loses 1-0 to Crystal Palace in major blow to Premier League title challenge

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Liverpool’s season is starting to unravel.

A 1-0 loss at home to Crystal Palace damaged Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge on Sunday, three days after a 3-0 defeat to Atalanta at Anfield in the first leg of the Europa League quarterfinals.

Eberechi Eze stroked home a finish from Tyrick Mitchell's cutback in the 14th minute to consign Liverpool to its first loss in the league at Anfield in 28 matches — stretching back to October 2022.

It was the 21st time the Reds have gone behind in 32 league games this season and they couldn’t recover, despite Wataru Endo hitting the crossbar midway through the first half and Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones squandering golden chances in front of the Kop after the break.

In the final minutes, Mohamed Salah was presented with an easy opportunity to score from close range for Liverpool but his prod toward goal was weak and blocked by the outstretched leg of Mitchell, who made a despairing challenge.

Liverpool started the weekend in second place, behind Arsenal on goal difference, but is now in third and two points adrift of first-place Manchester City after the champions’ 5-1 thrashing of Luton on Saturday. Arsenal also lost Sunday, 2-0 at home to Aston Villa, and was ahead of Liverpool on goal difference.

Liverpool lost last month to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarterfinals, ending Jurgen Klopp’s team’s unlikely quadruple hopes with the League Cup already secured.

In the past week, Liverpool has drawn at United, this time in the league, and now sustained back-to-back home losses in different competitions.

“Could be," Klopp said, when asked if the loss to Palace was a hangover from the defeat to Atalanta. "If you look at my teams over the years, I think you could say our pressing is usually good, the counterpress is there. The first half (against Palace), we were open — like how can that happen?”

"It’s only a few days ago that we played a bad game so it might have something to do with that. Actually it was a really good game (Sunday), without scoring. But it’s not that easy unfortunately.”

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Curtis Jones reacts after missing a scoring chance during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Disappointed Liverpool fans during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold reacts disappointed after the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen, left, helps to Crystal Palace's Nathaniel Clyne during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Crystal Palace's goalkeeper Dean Henderson punches the ball away during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's manager Jurgen Klopp looks on ahead the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Liverpool's Curtis Jones reacts after missing a scoring chance during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, centre, celebrates after scoring his side's opening goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Sunday, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Jon Super)

BOSTON (AP) — Kutter Crawford pitched a career-high seven innings, Connor Wong had three hits and the Boston Red Sox beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2 on Wednesday night.

Crawford (2-1) allowed two runs on four hits — including a home run — and two walks with six strikeouts as the Red Sox won their fourth straight.

“That was good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Crawford’s outing. “He worked hard in the offseason to get to this point. Big strikeout to end the sixth. Good stuff, good fastball. He earned the right to go out there and try to get three outs.

“Very proud of him. He’s been awesome, absolutely great. He got hit hard in the middle of the game, but that’s part of it, right? He threw a lot of strikes with good stuff and he maintained his stuff throughout the outing.”

The right-hander’s previous career high was 6 1/3 innings on April 17, 2023, against the Los Angeles Angels.

“Really satisfying,” Crawford said. “I can’t think of a better feeling than to get through seven, give your team the best chance to win and help the bullpen out while you’re at it.”

Chris Martin and Greg Weissert each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Boston.

Wong was 3 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Jarren Duran also reached base three times for Boston, with two walks and his fourth triple of the season.

Daulton Jefferies (0-2) pitched 2 2/3 innings of relief, giving up four runs on five hits and two walks with three strikeouts for San Francisco. He lowered his ERA from 22.50 to 17.36.

“He’s getting behind some guys,” said Giants manager Bob Melvin. “He’s normally a strike thrower. He walked a couple and gave up some hits, but got behind in some counts. And, as you saw, he was missing low with quite a few pitches and took a little while to find the strike zone and when he did, he was behind and they got some good swings off him.”

The Red Sox scored two runs in the third when Ceddanne Rafaela singled, Duran walked and Rafael Devers hit an RBI double. Rob Refsnyder then grounded out, scoring Duran.

Boston added two runs in the fourth when Wong led off with a double and scored on Enmanuel Valdez’s double. Duran’s stand-up triple scored Valdez.

Dom Smith, whom the Red Sox signed just before the game after he was released by Tampa Bay on Tuesday, had an RBI single in the fifth.

Tom Murphy led off the third with his first home run of the season, giving the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Erik Miller, taking the rotation spot of left-hander Blake Snell, on the injured list with a left adductor strain, went one scoreless inning with two walks and a strikeout.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: LHP Blake Snell, out since April 23 with a left adductor strain, threw a bullpen session on Wednesday.

Red Sox: RHP Nick Pivetta, out since April 6 with a right elbow flexor strain, is expected to start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday. … 2B Vaughn Grissom, out all season with a left hamstring strain, could rejoin the team on Friday, manager Alex Cora said. … INF Romy Gonzalez, out since April 11 with a left wrist sprain, could begin a rehab assignment Thursday or Friday.

UP NEXT

LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 4.09 ERA) is scheduled to start for San Francisco, his first career appearance against Boston. RHP Josh Winckowski (1-1, 3.50) will start for Boston. He has two career appearances against the Giants, spanning 2 2/3 innings, with no decisions and a 3.38 ERA.

__

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/MLB

Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Chris Martin throws during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox outfielder Rob Refsnyder heads to the dugout after scoring during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

San Francisco Giants shortstop Nick Ahmed (16) fields the ball during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Luke Jackson throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox second baseman Enmanuel Valdez, left, and outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela, right, hug at the end of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox second baseman Enmanuel Valdez tags out San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman (26) for the first out of a double play throwing to first during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox catcher Connor Wong (12) hits the ball for an RBI during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox starter pitcher Kutter Crawford throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Boston Red Sox starter pitcher Kutter Crawford throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)