Wirtz scores and assists as Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1

Liverpool returned to winning ways with a 3-1 victory at Crystal Palace on Sunday, with Florian Wirtz scoring one goal and helping create another. Alexis Mac Allister and Alexander Isak also scored as Andoni Iraola's side responded to defeats against Arsenal in the Premier League and Fenerbahce in the Champions League. The Guardian's match report detailed a first half in which Palace repeatedly threatened before Liverpool took control after the interval.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX2bCSKccco

Wirtz's contribution proved decisive in turning a narrow advantage into a comfortable lead. In the 54th minute, he met Bradley Barcola's low delivery from the right with a first-time finish to make it 2-0. He was involved again in the 89th minute, supplying the touch from which Isak struck Liverpool's third. Those goals followed Mac Allister's header before half-time.

Mac Allister's opener came from a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick after Jefferson Lerma was penalised for a foul on Cody Gakpo. The midfielder moved towards the near post to head in, having earlier sent a header wide from another Szoboszlai delivery. Barcola had also missed an opportunity shortly before the breakthrough, volleying over from a deep cross while unmarked.

Palace had produced several chances of their own. Jeremy Pino hit the crossbar after receiving Tyrick Mitchell's low ball from the left, while Jørgen Strand Larsen had a goal disallowed for offside. Alisson saved a Daichi Kamada volley and later kept out an attempt from Adam Wharton. Palace therefore reached the break behind despite testing Liverpool's defence throughout the opening period.

Their attacking threat faded after Wirtz doubled the lead, although Pino forced another save from Alisson following a quick break. Substitute Eddie Nketiah eventually scored a late penalty for the hosts, but it came after Isak had put Liverpool three goals ahead. Nketiah's strike was Palace's first goal during their sequence of four successive league losses.

For Liverpool, the result prevented a third consecutive defeat across competitions. Their preceding European loss had followed victories in their opening three Champions League games. Palace manager Pierre Sage, meanwhile, was left with another league defeat despite his team's first-half opportunities; injured forward Ismaïla Sarr was among those unavailable.