Benteke's revenge: Former Red dents Liverpool's top-4 hopes

Hell hath no fury like a scorned player returning to haunt his former side.

Christian Benteke did exactly that on Sunday, scoring twice in his first match at Anfield since being sent packing by Liverpool last summer, leading Crystal Palace to a 2-1 victory that could ultimately prove a fatal blow to the Reds' hopes of finishing in the top four this season.

The big Belgian striker, sold by Liverpool for £27 million last August after he was deemed incompatible with Jurgen Klopp's favoured style of play, tapped in a goal in the 42nd minute, and then followed that up with a 74th-minute header to give the Eagles a vital three points in their bid to avoid relegation.

The brace rendered Philippe Coutinho's brilliant first-half free-kick moot.

Related - Watch: Coutinho curler clips Eagles' wings

Liverpool now sits just three points ahead of fifth-place Manchester United in the encapsulating battle for a Champions League berth, but the Red Devils have two matches in hand on Klopp's lot.