{"id":1140913,"date":"2021-12-05T13:00:06","date_gmt":"2021-12-05T13:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1140913"},"modified":"2021-12-05T13:23:16","modified_gmt":"2021-12-05T13:23:16","slug":"liverpool-crystal-palace-premier-league-title-race-crystanbul","status":"publish","type":"cult-corner","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/cult-corner\/liverpool-crystal-palace-premier-league-title-race-crystanbul\/","title":{"rendered":"Where are they now? The Liverpool and Palace sides from Crystanbul"},"content":{"rendered":"

It was all going so well for Liverpool<\/span>. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Five points clear atop the Premier League with three games to play, the Reds<\/span> looked certain to secure the trophy that has eluded them for so long.<\/p>\n\n

On a run of 11 straight victories, Brendan Rodgers<\/span>‘ Liverpool<\/span> were confident heading into their final three games against Chelsea<\/span>, Crystal Palace<\/span> and Newcastle\u00a0that they would be able to\u00a0continue their run and see the season out in style.<\/p>\n

However, following that<\/em> slip from Steven Gerrard to put Demba Ba through on goal to cost Liverpool<\/span> their grip on first place, the Reds<\/span>‘ needed victory at Selhurst Park to ensure they stayed on track for their first league title in nearly 25 years.<\/p>\n

Leading the Eagles<\/span> by three goals with fifteen minutes to play, confidence was restored on Merseyside, but three late\u00a0strikes from Damien Delaney and Dwight Gayle (two) ensured Liverpool<\/span> were on the wrong side of one of the greatest ‘bottle-job’ episodes in Premier League<\/span> history — dubbed ‘Crystanbul’ in mockery of the Merseysiders’ very own three-goal comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul.<\/p>\n

Here’s what happened to the players involved on that famous Monday night\u00a0in ‘Crystanbul’.<\/p>\n

Crystal Palace<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Goalkeeper\u00a0–\u00a0Julian Speroni<\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 42<\/p>\n

Current Club:<\/strong>\u00a0Retired<\/p>\n

The veteran goalkeeper played another season as Palace’s number one before shuffling down the pecking order to accommodate Wayne Hennessey. He has since called time on his playing career, bringing the curtain down in 2019 to end 15 years in south London.<\/p>\n

Right-back\u00a0– Adrian Mariappa<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 35<\/p>\n

Current Club: Macarthur FC<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mariappa played 27 times in the 2013\/14 season, but became a peripheral figure before moving back to former club Watford<\/span> in the summer of 2016. He now turns out for Macarthur FC in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n

Centre-back\u00a0– Damien Delaney<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Age:<\/strong> 40<\/p>\n

Current Club:<\/strong>\u00a0Retired<\/p>\n

Delaney scored his first ever Premier League<\/span> goal to spark Palace’s miraculous comeback that day and went on to become a stalwart for the Eagles<\/span>, making 193 appearances in his Selhurst Park career.<\/p>\n

At the end of the 2017\/18 season, Delaney went back to where it all started and joined Cork City on a free transfer… much to the delight of the AS Roma English Twitter account.<\/p>\n

\n

OFFICIAL ? Damien Delaney is a Cork City player! ???<\/p>\n

The central defender has signed a contract with the League of Ireland champions until the end of the 2019 season! \u270d\ufe0f #GoodLuckDamien<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3CWshsfRDB<\/a><\/p>\n

— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) June 8, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n