Alan Pardew felt Christian Benteke made the absolute most out of a slight touch on him in the box late in Sunday's clash between Crystal Palace and Liverpool.

The Reds striker went to ground near the byline in the sixth minute of stoppage time at Selhurst Park with only a feather nick from Damien Delaney causing the spill.

Benteke picked himself up to coolly slot home the ensuing spot-kick to give ten-man Liverpool a 2-1 come-from-bend victory, prompting anger and frustration from Pardew.

"That touch doesn't warrant the dive he makes, and it's the dive that makes the linesman's mind up. It's a worrying issue in the game," said Pardew.

"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.

"Both of them (Benteke and the referee): really frustrated with that. You try to be fair, to say the right thing to your players, and send out the right message to the players.

"Everyone's seen the penalty. If you're the referee and see the centre-half pulling out of the challenge, you don't give the penalty. And I don't think he did.

"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.

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

Joe Ledley had given Palace the lead with a fine left-footed strike early in the second half before Reds midfielder James Milner was sent off for a second bookable offence when bringing down Wilfried Zaha on 62 minutes.

Liverpool equalised when Alex McCarthy's howler of a clearance fell kindly for Roberto Firmino who stroked home in the 72nd minute before Benteke, who had come off the bench, netted his first league goal since late December to give Jurgen Klopp's side all three points.