Liverpool thrash Palace 3-1 as Sage faces mounting pressure after fourth straight defeat

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

Alexis Mac Allister, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak scored for the visitors, while Eddie Nketiah converted a late penalty for Palace, who suffered their fourth consecutive league defeat.

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

The Reds doubled their lead 14 minutes into the second half through Wirtz, who produced a composed finish after being set up by Bradley Barcola.

Palace attempted to fight their way back into the contest and created several scoring opportunities, but Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker produced a series of important saves to preserve his side’s advantage.

Isak effectively sealed the victory 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.

The hosts eventually found the net deep into stoppage time after referee awarded them a penalty following a foul by Milos Kerkez.

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Nketiah stepped up and converted from the spot in the 95th minute to reduce the deficit, but it was too late to prevent another defeat for Palace.

The result leaves Crystal Palace bottom of the Premier League table with just seven points from a possible 30 under Sage, who replaced Oliver Glasner during the summer.

Their fourth successive league loss has intensified scrutiny of the manager’s position, with Palace facing an increasingly difficult task to revive their struggling campaign.

Liverpool, meanwhile, climbed to fourth place in the standings, although they remain nine points behind league leaders Arsenal.

The victory also extended Liverpool’s impressive away form, marking their fourth consecutive win on the road and providing renewed confidence in their pursuit of Champions League qualification.