Wirtz provides quality to seal Liverpool’s win over toothless Crystal Palace

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It was the moment when Liverpool knew they would win here in south London and so move on from the Premier League loss to Arsenal at Anfield last Sunday and the one in midweek at Fenerbahce in the Champions League.Florian Wirtz had timed his run as Liverpool broke up the right and Bradley Barcola’s low pull back was made to measure. There were 54 minutes on the clock but they knew as well as everybody else that this was done.Palace were good in the first-half, Jeremy Pino their standout performer.

After the Wirtz goal, there was next to nothing from them, only a Pino effort after a quick break that Alisson blocked.Liverpool eased home and it was no surprise when Alexander Isak glossed the scoreline towards the end. They were wobbly at times in the first-half but they were on their way when Mac Allister profited from the generosity of the league’s worst defence.

There was the moment when Cody Gakpo volleyed across the face of goal only there was nobody there.Palace stabilised. When they broke with numbers in the 26th minute, Palace were indebted to Adam Wharton for a saving challenge on Isak after Wirtz had pulled back from the right.Palace had almost taken the lead by then.