Liverpool made five changes to their starting lineup for the Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The tactical reshuffle, which included recalls for defenders Ronald Araujo and Milos Kerkez, helped secure a 3-1 victory that lifted the club to sixth in the table with 15 points from nine games, a record of four wins, three draws and two losses.
Cody Gakpo, Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz all returned to the attack, while Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai continued their partnership in midfield. The defensive unit of Araujo, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk and Kerkez held firm for most of the contest, with Alisson making several key saves to preserve the lead.
Mac Allister broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, heading home a Szoboszlai free-kick. Wirtz then doubled the advantage nine minutes into the second half, scoring his first Premier League goal of the season from a low Bradley Barcola cross. Alexander Isak, the team's top scorer this season with six goals in eight appearances, added a third for Liverpool in the 89th minute before Eddie Nketiah converted a stoppage-time penalty for the hosts.
The win, which followed successive defeats to Arsenal and Fenerbahçe, provides a positive note before the international break. The result leaves the side with a goal difference of +2, having scored 11 and conceded nine in the league campaign so far. This victory at Selhurst Park on Sunday 8 November improves Liverpool's recent form to two wins, one draw and two losses from their last five matches across all competitions, a sequence that includes the 3-2 loss to Fenerbahçe on Wednesday 4 November and the 1-1 draw with Chelsea on Saturday 28 October.
Despite the win, the team remains 12 points behind the league leaders Arsenal in the title race. They will now prepare for their next Premier League fixture at home against Manchester United on Sunday 22 November.
First reported at liverpoolfc.com
Alexis Mac Allister has urged his Liverpool teammates to improve their performance levels after the international break, stating the 3-1 win at Crystal Palace was "far from perfect." The midfielder, who scored his first Premier League goal of the season from a Dominik Szoboszlai assist in the victory, told reporters, "We have to keep improving." He praised the centre-backs and highlighted the importance of set-pieces after the team's recent struggles defending them. The win lifts Liverpool to 4th in the Premier League with 18 points, now nine behind leaders Arsenal.
Dominik Szoboszlai is a doubt for Hungary's upcoming Nations League matches after sustaining a knee injury against Crystal Palace. The Hungarian Football Federation confirmed their captain is undergoing assessment. Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola expressed concern, stating, "The last thing we need now is to lose players in the international games." The Reds, who are 4th in the Premier League with 18 points, face Manchester United next on 22 November.
