[article=http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/it-was-hard-to-see-luis-suarez-break-down-in-tears--crystal-palaces-joe-ledley-9326520.html]Joe Ledley today insisted Crystal Palace did not take any pleasure from wrecking Liverpool’s title hopes or seeing Luis Suarez break down in tears.
Palace mounted a remarkable late comeback from three goals down to draw 3-3 with Liverpool on a breathtaking night at Selhurst Park.
Brendan Rodgers later conceded the Premier League to Manchester City and a devastated Suarez left the field sobbing with his shirt pulled over his face. Steven Gerrard was also in tears at the final whistle after Palace, who scored three goals in the final 11 minutes, seriously dented Liverpool’s chances of a first League title in 24 years.
Palace midfielder Ledley was delighted with his team’s fightback but admits he did feel sympathy for Liverpool and Suarez.
“They may not get an opportunity to win the Premier League like that again,” he said. “Slipping at the last step is not nice and you do feel for them. He [Suarez] has been fantastic all season and you do not want to see things like that in football.
“He is going to be emotional and it proves how motivated he is and how much is means to him. You do not take pleasure in it but I am a Palace player and it was good to get a point against a fantastic team.”
Liverpool moved a point clear at the top but Manchester City have a game in hand and will return to the summit with a win or a draw against Aston Villa tomorrow. Manuel Pellegrini’s side host West Ham on the final day and are now firm favourites to win the title.
Palace defender Scott Dann, who grew up supporting Liverpool, said: “When the game changes like that and they are still fighting for the title, he [Suarez] probably thinks it is all over now. It shows how much he wants to win. He is that type of player and you have seen that over the past couple of years.
“But we proved that it is not over until it is over and I am sure they will keep going until the end. All the lads in their dressing room will be really disappointed. To lose a three-goal lead and probably the title is a big thing. I wanted them to win the title but, when it comes down to it, I am a Palace player and I want to win. That was no different last night.”
Liverpool were in total control thanks to goals from Joe Allen, Daniel Sturridge and Suarez but collapsed in the final minutes, conceding first to Damien Delaney and then twice to substitute Dwight Gayle.
“When they got two goals early in the second half, you are thinking it could be a long night,” said Dann. “People were probably thinking it will be a case of how many? But credit to the lads, that is the type of spirit we have got in the squad. We needed the first goal and that gave us the belief to go on.”[/article]
