Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace was the kind of Sunday that flips moods on both sides of the Premier League. Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak did the damage at Selhurst Park, Liverpool bounced back from two straight defeats, and Palace slid to the bottom of the table going into the international break. For Pierre Sage, it may have been the final straw.
Liverpool Bounce Back at Selhurst Park
Liverpool arrived stung, beaten by Arsenal in the league and by Fenerbahce in the Champions League. Palace made them sweat. Yeremy Pino smashed an effort against the bar, and Alisson had to produce a string of saves, including stops from a Kamada volley and a Wharton attempt. Then Mac Allister rose to head home a Szoboszlai free-kick, and the game tilted.
Wirtz Ends the Drought
Wirtz had been waiting a long time for this. In the 54th minute he doubled Liverpool’s lead, scoring his first Premier League goal of the season and ending a 12-game league drought.
Isak then added a deflected third late on, his eighth goal in all competitions for Liverpool, and the points were safe.
Palace got a late consolation when Eddie Nketiah converted a stoppage-time penalty after Milos Kerkez fouled Dario Osorio. It was a nice moment for the home fans, but it changed nothing. Alisson was widely rated Liverpool’s best player, which says plenty about how well Palace played.
Pierre Sage Under Serious Pressure
The numbers make grim reading for Palace. They are bottom with seven points from 10 games, have lost four league matches in a row, and own the league’s worst defence with 24 goals conceded. They have won only twice in the league all season.
The Guardian and The Athletic both report that the club is poised to sack Sage, possibly during the international break. Former Spurs and Brentford boss Thomas Frank is described as the leading candidate, with Sean Dyche also mentioned. Sage said afterwards that things had not gone from dream to nightmare, but there was no official announcement at the time of writing.
What Happens Next
Liverpool climb to fourth and host Manchester United on Sunday 22 November. Palace travel to Coventry the day before, on Saturday 21 November, and they may have a new man in the dugout by then.
Final Word
Liverpool needed this win, and Wirtz needed this goal. Palace needed a miracle and did not find one. Stay with us for the Sage story as it develops.
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