Liverpool go back to top with win, Palace safe with victory at Arsenal

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Crystal Palace's Wilfried Zaha speaking to Sky Sports on his future after a recent interview: "To be honest the only thing I'm thinking about is Palace. I'm a Palace player right now and I don't know what the future holds for me.

"I'm here at Palace working for Palace. I'm not being distracted by anything else."

Arsenal manager Unai Emery speaking to Sky Sports: "Bad result. We know how to win again again, again at home, we have been doing. Today we played a team with very good players. The first goal gave them confidence. The second goal for them takes off our confidence.

"In the first half we didn't play with control. Yes, with possession - they defended very deep and well. In the set-pieces today, usually we have done better but today it didn't happen.

"We are being consistent but it's difficult to be in the high level each moment. Today the result was disappointing for us. We will analyse this match.

"On Wednesday we have another chance with Wolves.

"We have progressed and it gives us the chance to fight for the top four. On Wednesday, three points will give us the opportunity to be in this position.

"We lost an opportunity today. But now we finish it. If we win on Wednesday... who knows it'll be difficult. At the moment, it's in our hands."

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Gunners boss Unai Emery speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "In the first half with the possession we were better. The second half we started well and we drove. The second goal gave them confidence to continue and beat us. Our second goal gave us opportunity.

"They were very good tactically and were organised defensively. In the set pieces they gave us a problem.

"We brought on Alex Iwobi and we were better but their second goal was very bad for us and took away our confidence.

"We had fresh players and energy but in front we had a very good team. To finish in the top four is in our hands."

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More from Neil Warnock, speaking to Match of the Day: "I just think Sean Morrison has had his shirt pulled 10 times worse than that [the penalty], I thought it was a silly, soft penalty to give - he gives the referee an opportunity to give it, but the theatrics Salah comes up with, it's a 9.9 [dive].

"I thought Morrison was tugged by Robertson in the first half. We are not getting that many things but I thought the lads were super today, nine out of the starting 11 were in the Championship last season - we should have a job swap, me and Jurgen Klopp, let him have my lot and I'll have his lot.

"As a manager you cannot ask anything more than what my lads are giving, the fans are fantastic, to hang in as we did for that time I am really proud of them.

"Brighton will be looking at their Newcastle game thinking it's a great opportunity so we might need two wins and a draw. It's difficult to see where we're going to get a break - I still can't get over the Chelsea game, if you saw the dressing room after, I have never seen people destroyed like that.

"They (the fans) have been amazing all season and that helps the manager. They know I am doing my best and trying to contribute by their support - we're all trying to punch above our weight."

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson speaking to BBC's Match of the Day: "It ranks up there with the win over Man City. It was a really good team performance. The team worked hard to set out what we intended to do. The players should be absolutely delighted with themselves. I thought we were safe with five games to go but it's nice to have it confirmed mathematically.

"The goal should do a lot for Christian's confidence. His all around performance was first class. Him and Wilf [Zaha] did such a good job when Arsenal had the ball.

"They deserve an awful lot of credit."

On Zaha's recent interview on his future: "When the journalists pose a question about playing at a higher level, I don't know how you're supposed to answer. We have no interest and desire in selling Zaha. If he plays like he has done then it bodes well for the rest of the games and the future."

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Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson: "We don't want Zaha to go. We can't stop players from doing those interviews. But he's done it and said what he said. He's signed a long-term contract with Palace and we will do our level best to hang on to him.

"Sometimes journalists force you into those questions. In football you have to be prepared with what life throws up."

ICYMI, Wilfried Zaha gave an interview this week where he said he sees himself playing in the Champions League. It was all very level-headed stuff but Roy was asked about it...

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More from Palace boss Roy Hodgson's interview with Sky Sports: "Christian Benteke must be very confident after today's performance. It wasn't the fact he scored and set one up, he worked tirelessly and did a job offensively and defensively.

"He and Wilfried Zaha will feel they really did a job for the team

"For Christian who's has a rough time with injuries and not scoring the amount of goals he wants maybe with the final few games he will score a few more."

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Cardiff boss Neil Warnock, speaking to Sky Sports: "We have done really well playing against a team without a weakness, they have top quality around the pitch. Overall I was pleased with the players, we played on the front foot and made it a good game - we are disappointed one or two things didn't go for us.

"I thought (Sean) Morrison was tugged by (Andrew) Robertson when having a clear header and then a silly penalty he didn't have to give.

"The last bit was a great 9.9 dive, wasn't it."

On the Robertson tug: "Officials should try and get in a position to see that, he just stopped Morrison having a run - that's good defending if you get away with it.

"Morrison has been pulled from top to toe this season and not had a penalty. It's a nothing penalty really."

On missing chances in the first half: "It would have been nice to put Liverpool under that sort of pressure."

And on the dry pitch: "The groundsman must have thought there was a hosepipe ban, it slowed us down a bit.

"We have got three tough games, we needed things going for us we haven't had rub of the green in the last few weeks, we fought until the end and the fans are still with us."

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Cardiff have three games left, they face Fulham, Palace and Manchester United.

They are three points adrift, but we'll call it four because of their goal difference. Two wins needed?

SMS Message: So here's my prediction. United beat City. Liverpool draw against Newcastle. City and Liverpool on same points with last game. Both win that final game but it's all down to how many goals each team wins by. An absolute horrific day for the fans but a glorious day for the neutral. from Glen, Manchester

So here's my prediction. United beat City. Liverpool draw against Newcastle. City and Liverpool on same points with last game. Both win that final game but it's all down to how many goals each team wins by. An absolute horrific day for the fans but a glorious day for the neutral.

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Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson on Sky Sports: "Obvioulsy I am delighted with the display. Our defensive shape was fantastic. We remained compact and narrow. We made it difficult to find spaces behind us. I then thought on the counter-attack we were remarkably dangerous.

"The two front players were a constant thorn for the Arsenal defence.

"I thought the last few minutes there would be a bombardment. We could have aggravated the score a little bit more. It's nice to get over the 40-point marker. It's nice to have safety mathematically confirmed."

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Cardiff goalkeeper Neil Etheridge says "no one really knows the rules" about putting hands on players in the box, after Mo Salah was awarded a penalty for the foul by Sean Morrison.

Liverpool midfielder Gini Wijnaldum to MOTD: "It was tense the whole game, it was really tough. We knew that, the situation that both teams are in, we knew they would do everything to make it difficult for us.

"The pitch was dry, there were no ball boys anywhere but we knew that. Of course there was relief when I scored, we are in a tough situation as we knew we had to win to compete with Manchester City.

"In other leagues we might win this sort of game four or five nil but not in the Premier League."

Chris: If Arsenal and Manchester United let Chelsea finish 4th then they are terrible. 3 of the poorest overall season performances by top 6 teams in recent memory.

DSSBrooks: Very amusing hearing worried and annoyed Liverpool fans saying United owe a performance on Wednesday after yet another shambles today - City will no doubt tonk them!

Abdul: That was a big Big chance for Arsenal to say goodbye to UTD and Chelsea, now it's gone

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Liverpool's current haul of 88 points this season would have been enough to claim the title in 14 of the previous 26 Premier League seasons.

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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp on Match of the Day: "It was prepared to be a proper banana skin and we knew that, the boys were unbelievable. It was clear, difficult for all of us.

"The weather changed and made it much more intense. We knew we had to stay patient and do the right things. It was very dry on the pitch so passing was not very easy. The boys didn't get frustrated, we had wonderful chances in the first half but we knew if we continued we would have chances.

"It was brilliant how we scored the goals. No doubt a penalty, he grabs him five or six times.

"I only know about me and I didn't feel it (the pressure) we have to do it like we do it. We cannot change it. The boys try really with all they have, we only speak about the things we have to do.

"Their attitude is outstanding and it's a tough season but a very positive one as well."

On Georginio Wijnaldum's goal: "We have our routines, at half-time the boys spoke about it. It was all credit to the boys, we didn't train it, they spoke about it and did it in the game."

SMS Message: Well done Arsenal, you have blown yet another chance. Fully deserved three points for Palace, Arsenal on the other hand, deserve nothing from Rich, Kent

Well done Arsenal, you have blown yet another chance. Fully deserved three points for Palace, Arsenal on the other hand, deserve nothing

Liverpool have now amassed 88 points in the league this season, their best ever total in a Premier League season; adjusting to three points for a win, they have only earned more in a top-flight campaign in 1978-79 (98) and 1987-88 (90).