Alan Pardew accuses Christian Benteke of diving as Crystal Palace boss fumes at Liverpool's last-gasp penalty winner

Alan Pardew and Damien Delaney accused Christian Benteke of diving after ten-man Liverpool grabbed a late 2-1 win against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Liverpool came from a goal and a man down to beat Pardew's side, with Benteke scoring from the spot in the sixth minute of stoppage time after going down in the area under Delaney's challenge.

Joe Ledley's powerful 48th-minute finish had given Palace the lead and after James Milner's red card Liverpool were struggling until home goalkeeper Alex McCarthy slipped under little pressure while attempting a routine clearance and gifted Roberto Firmino an equaliser.

Benteke then beat McCarthy from the spot to secure Liverpool's third straight Premier League win, but the way he went to ground to earn the penalty angered Pardew.

The Palace boss said: "That touch doesn't warrant that dive. If that touch warrants a collapse like that, then wow, we really need to say, 'Come on'.

"And it's the dive that makes the linesman's mind up. The linesman assumes that little touch is a penalty. He makes the most of it.

"If you think that touch affects the fall and the way he lands, then you really need to be consulted.

"I've heard (Sky Sports pundit and former Liverpool defender) Jamie Carragher saying there was contact and he was within his rights to go down. Jamie Carragher is saying that? He's an ex pro. Come on."

Palace Delaney took to Instagram after the game to insist he did not touch Benteke.

He wrote: "I can honestly say I didn't make contact with Benteke today and IF there was slight contact I didn't impede him and certainly didn't feel there was enough to award a penalty in the 96th min...If a penalty is awarded that late it has to be unequivocal.

"I waited over an hour to speak with the officials and in fairness to Andre Marriner he said he didn't think it was a penalty but he trusted his linesman that much he awarded it."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insisted the decision was correct.

Klopp, whose side are six points off the top four, said: "I'm sure. If you run and you get this touch, you fall down.

"Try it. Both things. With the knee and with the foot. In my opinion, there was more than enough of a touch."