This season has been one of progress for Crystal Palace, a fact they demonstrated in a blistering second half against Liverpool.

Where the opening 45 minutes of Sundays 3-1 home defeat were an example of the limitations they still have and a key part of the reason they are yet to push on into the top half of the Premier League table, the second exemplified the character and belief the team has under summer appointment Patrick Vieira.

For much of last season, Palace were treading water under Roy Hodgson. Things felt stale. This same fixture, a 7-0 defeat that is the heaviest at home in the clubs history, saw them fall apart in the second half.

Although primarily defensive and counter-attacking under Hodgson, it was mostly Liverpools clinical finishing and poor defending from Palace which contributed to the thumping they took that day in December 2020. They began the second half apparently defeated at 3-0 down and conceded four more times.

Yesterdays meeting could not have been more different.

The scoreline fails to tell the story adequately, and does not afford Vieira and his team the credit they deserve for coming close to a successful comeback and getting something from the game. It is one of the stories of their season, though leaving themselves with work to do, given they went in at half-time 2-0 down, having failed to take several chances despite being outplayed for the majority of the half.

Palace 2021-22 are significantly more positive in their approach than past sides.

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Positive approach against Liverpool shows the progress Palace are making under Vieira - The Athletic