Liverpool returned to winning ways on Sunday with a 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace, their first win in three games in all competitions. Goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak did the damage, and Eddie Nketiah’s stoppage-time penalty was a consolation for the hosts. The result also raised a question that has followed the German since his summer move: is Wirtz finally producing the form Liverpool paid for?
Match Overview: Liverpool Beat Crystal Palace 3-1
Liverpool had lost back-to-back games for the first time under Andoni Iraola, falling 1-0 to Arsenal in the Premier League and 3-2 at Fenerbahce in the Champions League. A trip to a struggling Palace side was a chance to reset before the November international break, and the visitors took it. The match was not a flowing performance, but it was a practical one. Key points from the afternoon:
- Palace hit the crossbar through Yeremy Pino in an open first quarter.
- Alisson Becker made six saves, including key stops from Daichi Kamada and Adam Wharton.
- Liverpool were efficient, scoring from three of their chances that mattered most.
- Liverpool moved up to fourth, with 18 points from 10 league matches.
How the Goals Came
Liverpool’s three goals came from set pieces, a quick combination on the right and a counter-attack. Palace created chances but could not convert them, and the hosts were punished each time they lost their shape. The timeline below shows how the scoring unfolded.
Liverpool’s clinical finishing also highlighted how quickly momentum can shift during a Premier League match. For football fans who follow fixtures and betting markets through platforms such as Betway, games like this demonstrate why the final result does not always reflect which team controlled possession or created the most opportunities. Palace had their chances, but Liverpool made better use of theirs.
Mac Allister’s header ended a spell of pressure from Palace and gave Liverpool a half-time lead. The second goal, from Wirtz, arrived nine minutes after the restart and changed the feel of the match. Isak’s finish late on, following a quick break, confirmed the result. The official Liverpool match report gives a detailed breakdown of the key phases.
Liverpool and Palace players contest possession during the Selhurst Park clash.
Is Florian Wirtz Finally Finding His Form?
Wirtz’s goal was significant for a player who had been waiting for his first league strike of the season. He had gone a long stretch without scoring in the Premier League, and his finish against Palace was a useful confidence boost. The bigger question is whether his overall play is improving, not just whether he has found the net once.
Several points suggest a more settled Wirtz:
- He scored with a first-time finish from a well-timed run, showing the timing and technique that have marked his best spells.
- He followed Andoni Iraola’s instruction to arrive in the box with more players, and he finished the chance when it came.
- He was involved in the build-up as Liverpool broke down the right, rather than drifting in and out of the game.
Wirtz was also honest about the performance. He said Liverpool were “efficient in front of the goal” and did not create a flood of big chances. He also pointed to a problem Liverpool need to fix: 13 of their 18 points have come away from home, so they must take more points at Anfield. That is a sensible assessment, and it suggests Wirtz sees the bigger picture as well as his own role.
A goal celebration that captures the relief of Liverpool’s return to winning ways.
Crystal Palace Under Pressure
For Palace, the defeat deepened a difficult run. It was their fourth consecutive league defeat, and they have now lost three straight Premier League games without scoring. Palace sit bottom of the table with seven points from 10 matches, and head coach Pierre Sage is under heavy scrutiny. Missing Jean-Philippe Mateta through suspension did not help, and the hosts had few clear chances to show what they could do in front of goal.
Several factors stood out for the home side:
- They were the better side for long spells in the first half but could not turn pressure into goals.
- Injuries and suspensions limited their attacking options, with Chadi Riad, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ismaïla Sarr all unavailable.
- Their defensive lapses at set pieces proved costly, particularly the free-kick that led to Mac Allister’s goal.
Sky Sports’ match report on Palace’s struggles captures the scale of the pressure around the club as they head into the international break.
A packed stadium on matchday, the kind of atmosphere Palace hoped would lift them.
What Comes Next for Liverpool
Liverpool head into the international break fourth in the table and three points behind third-placed Manchester City. The next task is a home game against Manchester United at Anfield on 22 November, where Wirtz’s comments about home form will be tested directly. Liverpool have the attacking options to win that game, but they will need more control than they showed in London.
For Wirtz, the question is whether this goal is the start of a run or a single moment. Based on what happened at Selhurst Park, the signs are encouraging: he was scoring from good positions, he was involved in the attacking shape, and he was thinking clearly about the team’s next steps. The next few home matches will show whether he can carry that form into games that Liverpool must win.
