Liverpool Beat Crystal Palace 3-1 to Enter Top Four

Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak scored as Liverpool won 3-1 at Crystal Palace on Sunday, moving into the Premier League top four before the international break.

By StoryTimesNow Sports Desk — 08 November 2026, 9:34 PM IST

A footballer in silhouette strikes the ball toward goal as the goalkeeper dives, under the floodlights of a packed stadium at dusk. — Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday. (Illustration: StoryTimesNow)

Key Takeaways

What happened: Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park on Sunday, 8 November 2026. Mac Allister scored in the 40th minute, Wirtz in the 54th and Isak in the 89th; Eddie Nketiah's added-time penalty was only a consolation.
Who made the difference: Mac Allister headed in Dominik Szoboszlai's free kick, Wirtz scored his first league goal of the season, and Isak finished from Wirtz's pass. Alisson made four first-half saves.
What next: The win takes Liverpool into the top four before the international break. Palace had a goal disallowed and hit the woodwork.

Introduction

Liverpool went into the international break inside the Premier League top four after a 3-1 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, with goals from Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

Palace had beaten Liverpool three times already this season and had the better of the first half — a goal disallowed, the woodwork struck, four saves from Alisson — but were punished for not taking their chances.

What Happened?

Palace started brighter. Yeremy Pino hit the bar, Jorgen Strand Larsen had a goal ruled out for offside after a VAR check, and Alisson made four saves as the hosts built up more expected goals than the visitors before the break, 0.94 to 0.78.

The breakthrough went against the run of play. In the 40th minute Dominik Szoboszlai whipped in a cross from a wide free kick and Mac Allister rose highest to head home — his fifth goal of the season.

Wirtz doubled the lead nine minutes after the restart, sweeping home Bradley Barcola's low cross for his first league goal of the season. Isak made it 3-0 in the 89th minute from Wirtz's pass, and Nketiah converted a penalty in added time before the whistle at 90 minutes plus six.

Why Does This Matter?

The win matters because of the week Liverpool have had. They arrived after a 3-2 Champions League defeat at Fenerbahce and a 1-0 home league defeat to Arsenal, having lost six of their previous seven competitive matches. A fourth straight defeat to Palace would have deepened a genuine crisis; instead they leave south London with three points and a top-four place.

For Palace, the margins were fine. They could easily have led by two at the break, and go into the break beaten at home by a side they had dominated in three meetings this season.

Important Details

Match: Crystal Palace 1-3 Liverpool, Premier League Matchday 10, Selhurst Park, Sunday 8 November 2026. Kick-off 19:30 IST. Referee: Tony Harrington.
Goals: Mac Allister 40 (header, assist Szoboszlai); Wirtz 54 (assist Barcola); Isak 89 (assist Wirtz); Nketiah 90+5 (penalty).
Half-time: 0-1 at the break. Palace had 0.94 expected goals to Liverpool's 0.78; Alisson made four saves.
Key moments: Pino hit the bar; Strand Larsen's goal was disallowed for offside; Araujo was booked in the 24th minute.
Line-ups: Liverpool — Alisson; Araujo, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Szoboszlai; Gakpo, Wirtz, Barcola; Isak. Palace — Henderson; Richards, Disasi, Lerma, Mingueza, Wharton, Timber, Mitchell, Kamada, Pino, Strand Larsen.

Background and Context

Palace had made a habit of beating Liverpool: the Community Shield on penalties in August, a 2-1 league win in September that started Liverpool's run of six defeats in seven, and a 3-0 EFL Cup win at Anfield. Sunday was the fourth meeting of the season — and the first Liverpool have won.

Last season at Selhurst Park, Palace won it with an Eddie Nketiah goal deep into added time. On Sunday Nketiah scored again — but only a stoppage-time penalty consolation.

What Happens Next?

The win sends Liverpool into the international break inside the top four. Palace go into the break frustrated by a game they could have won, and will need to be more clinical when the league resumes.

What Readers Should Know

Liverpool won 3-1 at Selhurst Park through Mac Allister, Wirtz and Isak, with Nketiah's late penalty for Palace. The win takes Liverpool into the top four; Wirtz scored his first league goal of the season and Mac Allister his fifth.

FAQs

Who scored for Liverpool against Crystal Palace?

Mac Allister in the 40th minute, Wirtz in the 54th and Isak in the 89th — a Szoboszlai free kick, a Barcola cross and a Wirtz pass setting them up.

Who scored Crystal Palace's goal?

Substitute Eddie Nketiah, from the penalty spot in added time. The whistle followed a minute later.

What does the result mean for the Premier League table?

Liverpool go into the international break in the top four. Palace lose at home despite creating the better first-half chances.

Sources and Verification

The Times, Premier League live blog, 8 November 2026.
Sportradar, Crystal Palace vs Liverpool play-by-play, 8 November 2026.
NBC Sports, Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live updates, 8 November 2026.
TNT Sports, Crystal Palace vs Liverpool live commentary, 8 November 2026.
All Football, Glasner thrilled as Palace best Liverpool again, 7 November 2026.
Google Trends India, 8 November 2026, 8:58 PM IST.

The score, scorers and goal times were cross-checked across the Sportradar play-by-play and The Times live blog, with NBC Sports and TNT Sports confirming the first-half pattern. All sources are dated 8 November 2026, except the background report on Palace's earlier wins, dated 7 November 2026.

Editorial Note

The final score and goal details were verified against the Sportradar play-by-play and The Times live blog after the full-time whistle at 90 minutes plus six.

Liverpool Beat Crystal Palace 3-1 to Climb Into the Top Four