Report: Palace beaten by Liverpool

Summary:

• Four changes to Palace’s starting XI, with Disasi, Lerma, Mingueza and Strand Larsen returning.
• 14: Palace start brightly but Szoboszlai forces Henderson into low save from distance.
• 18: Pino smashes the bar with a brilliant effort from Mitchell’s cross.
• 27: Jacquet heads over the bar for Liverpool in end-to-end first-half.
• 31: Strand Larsen’s effort deflects wide as Palace counter at pace.
• 33: The Norway forward has an effort ruled out for a narrow offside.
• 38: Alisson keeps out Kamada’s volley as Palace pile on the pressure.
• 40 – Goal: Liverpool lead against the run of play through Mac Allister’s header.
• 43: Wharton’s flicked header is denied by the ‘keeper.
• 45+3: Araujo spurns a big chance for the visitors.
• HT: Palace 0-1 Liverpool
• 54 – Goal: Wirtz places home Liverpool’s second despite Palace pressure.
• 58: Mitchell makes an important sliding tackle to deny Barcola a shot.
• 63: The full-back puts in a series of good deliveries but Liverpool clear their lines.
• 76: A big chance for Palace as Pino’s effort from Osorio’s pull-back is blocked.
• 77: Nketiah is played in by Wharton but the forward skews over.
• 86: Henderson makes a brilliant save to deny Isak one-on-one.
• 89 – Goal: Isak’s effort deflects beyond Henderson.
• 90+5 – GOAL: Nketiah converts an excellent penalty after Osorio is felled.
• FT: Palace 1-3 Liverpool

Palace had enjoyed positive recent memories against Liverpool, but were seeking a first Premier League win in four in their final match ahead of the November international window.

Pierre Sage responded to Palace’s late equaliser against TSG Hoffenheim on Thursday night with four changes, as Jørgen Strand Larsen returned to lead the forward line following the suspension of Jean-Philippe Mateta, with Axel Disasi, Jefferson Lerma and Óscar Mingueza all also reintroduced to the starting XI.

The Eagles began brightly, too, frequently switching the ball quickly around the Liverpool box to good – and threatening – effect.

Yéremy Pino, newly crowned October Temporal Player of the Month, was particularly threatening, dovetailing well with Tyrick Mitchell on the left-hand side.

But Liverpool, off the back of two consecutive defeats, also had a point to prove, and threatened early on through Dominik Szoboszlai, who forced Dean Henderson into a save low down to his right with a crisply struck half-volley from 35 yards.

Yet Palace grew into the contest – and came within inches of taking the lead on 18 minutes.

Another lovely passing move saw Mitchell run clear down the left, and his fizzed ball in was flicked up superbly by Pino. The Spaniard did not hesitate to strike on his left foot – a rising drive across goal which beat Alisson all ends up, but sadly not the crossbar.

It was end-to-end, and Jérémy Jacquet had the next clear chance for Liverpool, heading wide from a Liverpool corner.

Palace were threatening throughout, however, and Strand Larsen collected from Daichi Kamada on the half-hour mark, cut inside – and saw his shot spin wide after a narrow deflection.

From the corner, Mingueza kept the ball alive, delivering to the far post where Pino brought it down and smashed into the crowded six yard box. It deflected to Strand Larsen who improvised superbly, chipping Alisson impudently – but the Norway forward was found to be offside upon VAR review.

Moments later, another close moment, as Mitchell’s far-post delivery found Kamada in space. He struck it sweetly on the volley, but Alisson produced an outstanding fingertip save to deny the Eagle.

And, so has Palace’s luck proven so often so far this season, the momentum swung in a moment.

Shortly before half-time, after a contentious decision led to Liverpool winning a free-kick out wide, Szoboszlai delivered and Alexis Mac Allister – unmarked at the near post – glanced the visitors into the lead against the run of play.

Palace tried to hit back again and Adam Wharton’s glancing header, from Pino’s cross, was somehow kept out full-stretch by Alisson.

But set-pieces were proving dangerous for Liverpool again on the stroke of half-time, and when Jacquet won a near-post flick, Ronald Araujo somehow did not generate enough power to score from six yards out.

A 1-0 deficit was harsh on Palace at half-time, who came out fighting at the start of the second-half, Pino and Strand Larsen linking up to neat effect.

Yet once again, a sucker punch suffered not long after the interval, as Bradley Barcola delivered to the penalty spot and Florian Wirtz managed to sweep home Liverpool’s second.

It was a positive spell after that for Liverpool, who threatened again on the break – Mitchell sliding in in the nick of time to block Barcola’s route to goal.

At the other end, Palace continued to plug, with Mitchell in particular threatening on the overlap – but Liverpool holding firm.

Both teams made a raft of substitutions seeking to influence the result, with Dario Osorio a bright spark off the bench for Palace.

Indeed, with 15 minutes remaining, there was a huge chance for Palace to get back into the game as Eddie Nketiah won the ball high, Osorio ran onto it and square for the unmarked Pino – whose effort was blocked by the sprinting Alisson.

Moments later, Wharton clipped a clever ball over the top for Nketiah to shoot from a tight angle – but leaning back, the forward skewed over on his weaker foot.

Palace continued to press for a route back into the match, but despite some decent approach play, the opening never really came.

Liverpool could have extended their lead in the final few moments were it not for Henderson making a superb save to deny Alexander Isak low down, clean through.

The reprieve was temporary, Victor Muñoz breaking at pace, finding Wirtz, who passed it to Isak – and his shot deflected over Henderson.

Palace did pull one back deep into injury time, Osorio fouled – and Nketiah emphatically dispatching the penalty kick – but the defeat was long since confirmed.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Richards, Disasi, Lerma, Mingueza (Khalaili, 87), Timber (Osorio, 60), Wharton, Mitchell, Kamada, Pino (McNeil, 87), Strand Larsen (Nketiah, 72).

Subs: Benítez (GK), Canvot, Chilwell, Doucouré, Hughes.

Liverpool: Alisson (GK), Araujo (Gomez, 90+1), Van Dijk, Jacquet, Kerkez, Wirtz, Szoboszlai (Nyoni, 69), Mac Allister, Gakpo (Ngumoha, 76), Barcola (Munoz, 69), Isak (Koumas, 90).

Subs: Mamardashvili (GK), Endo, Tsimikas, McConnell.