Sage under pressure as Liverpool hand Palace fourth straight loss

Liverpool strengthened their push for a Premier League top-four finish with a 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday, piling further pressure on Eagles manager Pierre Sage.

Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak were on target as Liverpool secured all three points, while Eddie Nketiah scored a late penalty for the hosts.

The visitors took the lead in the 40th minute when Mac Allister rose highest to head home from a well-worked free-kick routine, giving Liverpool a 1-0 advantage at the break.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Wirtz doubled Liverpool’s lead with a composed finish after being set up by Bradley Barcola.

Palace struggled to convert their opportunities despite creating several chances, with Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker making a series of important saves to keep the hosts at bay.

Isak put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute, finishing off a move created by Wirtz to make it 3-0 and register his seventh Premier League goal of the season.

However, Palace grabbed a consolation goal deep into stoppage time after referee awarded them a penalty following a foul by Milos Kerkez. Nketiah stepped up and converted from the spot in the 95th minute to make the final score 3-1.

The defeat marked Palace’s fourth consecutive Premier League loss, leaving them bottom of the table with just seven points from a possible 30 under Sage, who replaced Oliver Glasner during the summer.

The result further intensified questions surrounding the manager’s future, with Palace facing an increasingly difficult battle to turn their season around.

For Liverpool, the victory lifted them to fourth place in the Premier League standings, although they remain nine points behind leaders Arsenal.

The Reds will take confidence from another away victory, having now won four consecutive matches on the road.