If a manager does not strike a defiant pose he is deemed to be acting in an unprofessional manner, so Liverpool's Roy Evans will continue to talk of titles and Crystal Palace's Attilio Lombardo will continue to dream of survival.

Both, of course, will be disappointed come the season's end. This was drab stuff, what little excitement there was coming late in the game as Liverpool produced a rather familiar storyline.

The only unanswered question at Anfield yesterday was whose testimonial match was it?

Palace had negotiated 30 largely uneventful minutes without undue fuss and then the roof caved in on them.

It was down to sloppy defending, a concept which Palace have embraced with some gusto since Christmas. Steve Harkness's cross into the penalty area from the left flank was orthodox and no more than hopeful but it was allowed to drift to the far post, where Oyvind Leonhardsen arrived unannounced to score clinically.

Liverpool should have capitalised on the breakthrough but typically couldn't find top gear. It was desperate and unrewarding fare which only hinted at better things in the final quarter, when Palace took Liverpool's lethargy as an invitation to seek an equalising goal. They must have been surprised to find their hosts in such a benevolent mood.

Seventeen minutes remained when Liverpool yielded, Marcus Bent finding sufficient time and space to lob a Simon Rodger cross over the exposed goalkeeper Brad Friedel.

But there was still time for Liverpool to seek the forgiveness of their long-suffering supporters.

Palace were within six minutes of surviving when they were undone, the 20-year-old substitute David Thompson, from close range, steering in Steve McManaman's low, hard cross.

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. Goal: Bent 72. Att: 43,007. Referee: G P Barber (Pyrford).