Match reportIsak, Robertson and Wirtz score as Liverpool beat Crystal Palace

The Reds had secured a two-goal advantage by half-time through fine finishes from Alexander Isak and Andy Robertson.

Daniel Munoz then reduced the deficit for the Eagles in the 71st minute, though Florian Wirtz ensured the points were safe in added time for the home side with an impressive driven effort.

Team

Freddie Woodman started in goal in his full Premier League debut for the Reds as one of two changes made by head coach Arne Slot.

Alexis Mac Allister also came into the midfield in place of Ryan Gravenberch.

Liverpool: Woodman, Van Dijk, Konate, Wirtz, Szoboszlai, Isak (Gravenberch, 78), Mac Allister, Salah (Frimpong, 59), Jones (Gomez, 87), Gakpo, Robertson (Kerkez, 87).

Unused subs: Pecsi, Chiesa, Nyoni, Ngumoha, W. Wright.

First half

Liverpool enjoyed early pressure in the contest as Wirtz saw a shot deflected behind and Virgil van Dijk challenged goalkeeper Dean Henderson at a corner ball.

It was the visitors, however, who had the better of the chances in the opening exchanges.

Chris Richards first headed an Adam Wharton cross over the bar, while Brennan Johnson saw a shot from long range saved by Woodman.

Ismaila Sarr then produced a clever cutback for Johnson, but the attacker guided the effort over the crossbar.

In response, Liverpool were initially awarded a penalty in the 23rd minute following a swift break forward into the final third.

VAR, though, intervened to overturn the decision after Johnson was deemed to get a touch on the ball during his challenge on Mohamed Salah in the box.

The No.11 then had a half-volley fly over from inside the area after a deflected Curtis Jones cross from the right flank.

The Reds produced two goals ahead of the half-time interval to give themselves a commanding lead in the contest.

Isak opened the scoring with a brilliant turn and finish in the area after Mac Allister’s shot from outside the box fell into the No.9’s path.

The striker controlled and fired the ball into the ground and up again as the effort evaded the reach of the diving Henderson.

Liverpool then added a second through Robertson, with goalkeeper Woodman beginning the attack with a stunning save from Jean-Philippe Mateta’s close-range header after a swinging cross.

The Reds turned defence into attack quickly. Jones eventually released Robertson in on goal, resulting in the full-back firing low into the bottom corner of the net.

Second half

The Eagles introduced Borna Sosa from the bench at the break and the substitute enjoyed the opening chance of the second period.

Palace worked the ball to the full-back, only for his low effort to be drilled wide of the mark from the edge of the box.

Isak continued to threaten as Cody Gakpo’s ball through the centre of the visiting defence almost released the striker in once more.

On the hour, Liverpool were forced into their first change of the afternoon, with Salah being replaced by Jeremie Frimpong due to injury.

The Reds continued to push forward and Dominik Szoboszlai’s delivery in from the left byline was the next to cause havoc in the area as Palace scrambled the free ball clear from the feet of Isak.

With a little under 20 minutes remaining, however, the visitors reduced the deficit through Munoz.

Woodman came to block an initial chance inside the area and was left injured as a result, leaving the full-back to lift a finish from the right into an empty net unchallenged, with the hosts aggrieved.

Palace pushed on in search of a leveller after they netted and almost had one with five minutes remaining in the match.

Substitute Jorgen Strand Larsen raced clear and clipped a shot past the onrushing Woodman, who had darted from his line to close the angle.

The effort hit the inside of the post and roll back across the line before being cleared away from danger. He appeared to ultimately have been offside, too.

And there was time for Liverpool to secure all three points in the final moments, as Wirtz produced a piledriving finish into the back of the net.

The playmaker was in the right place at the right time to connect with a Mac Allister touch back in the area following a throw-in, which put the exclamation point on a victory that further boosts Champions League qualification hopes for Slot’s charges.

Attendance: 60,314