Wirtz leads Liverpool to 3-1 win at Crystal Palace

Liverpool take control through Wirtz and Mac Allister

Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park, with Florian Wirtz’s goal and assist helping decide a match in which Liverpool produced the stronger attacking numbers. Their expected-goals figure was 2.71, compared with Crystal Palace’s 1.61, despite Palace having 53% possession.

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring in the 40th minute, finishing Dominik Szoboszlai’s assist to make it 0-1. Wirtz then doubled Liverpool’s lead in the 54th minute after Bradley Barcola’s pass, making the score 0-2. Alexander Isak added Liverpool’s third in the 89th minute, assisted by Wirtz, before Eddie Nketiah converted a penalty in the 90th minute for the final score of 1-3.

Liverpool create the clearer chances

The shot count was close, with Liverpool recording 20 attempts to Palace’s 19, and the hosts actually had more total passes, 411 to 352. Liverpool, however, led shots inside the box 18-12 and shots on goal 8-7. Alisson Becker made six saves, while Palace’s goalkeeper made five.

Wirtz was the standout performer, earning a 9.0 rating after playing 90 minutes, scoring once and supplying one assist. Liverpool also received four yellow cards, including Mac Allister’s in the 83rd minute; Palace had two, with no red cards for either team.

Liverpool rise provisionally to fourth

Liverpool went into the game sixth on 15 points and now have 18 points from 10 matches, provisionally fourth. They trail leaders Arsenal by 9 points. Palace remain on 7 points from 10 matches, level with one other team, after going into the match ranked #19 on 7 points.