Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace Player Ratings: Andrew Robertson 8.0/10 Seals Crucial Liverpool Win Before Wirtz Late Strike Puts Champions League Race to Bed

Palace were the better side for the opening half-hour, and Liverpool knew it. Johnson, Sarr, and Mateta caused constant problems against a makeshift Reds backline, with Woodman, making his first Premier League start, forced into two outstanding saves that kept the hosts level in a contest they were struggling to get a grip on. The stadium held its breath, a VAR-overturned penalty added further anxiety, and Salah's sharp dribbling remained Liverpool's sole consistent source of attacking threat in a frustrating opening period.

Then Isak struck. Mac Allister's speculative effort dropped kindly for the returning Swedish striker, who brought the ball under control with instinctive brilliance before bouncing it into the far corner, his first goal of 2026. Robertson added a second five minutes later, driving onto Jones' precise through-ball before finishing with the composure of a natural goalscorer to give Liverpool a commanding half-time advantage.

Munoz's controversial 71st-minute chip into an empty net, with Woodman injured on the ground, reduced the deficit and sparked genuine anxiety throughout Anfield's closing stages, with Strand Larsen hitting the post and Crystal Palace generating an xG of 2.19 in a result that felt far more precarious than it should have been. Wirtz ended the tension in the most emphatic fashion possible, Mac Allister's pass finding the German in stoppage time, who guided a composed right-footed finish into the net to seal a 3-1 victory that moved Liverpool into fourth place and kept their Champions League qualification push firmly on track.

Liverpool Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Here are the Liverpool player ratings vs Crystal Palace, including full individual scores, standout performers, and key moments.

Goalkeeper

Freddie Woodman - 8.0: What an outstanding performance. He made five crucial saves, some of which were genuinely world-class. The stops to deny Ismaïla Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta were pivotal moments in this Premier League fixture. He commanded his area well and couldn't have done anything about the goal. A truly match-winning display.

Defenders

Virgil van Dijk - 6.5: A standard, solid performance from the captain. He made a massive eight clearances, showing his positional awareness. However, the defence looked rattled in the second half, which he has to take some responsibility for. He was strong in the air but part of a backline that ultimately conceded and looked vulnerable under pressure. Not his most dominant display, but he did enough.

Ibrahima Konaté - 7.5: We thought Konaté was immense for large parts of the game. He won an impressive seven duels and made seven clearances, including one off the line. His pace was crucial in dealing with Palace's counter-attacks. He was aggressive, strong, and read the game exceptionally well. A real rock at the back who can be proud of his contribution.

Andrew Robertson - 8.0: Man of the Match!! A fantastic attacking contribution from the fullback. He took his goal with the composure of a seasoned striker, a crucial strike that ended up being the winner. He was a constant outlet on the left, though he was quieter in the second half as Palace pushed forward. Defensively, he was solid enough, making a couple of important clearances. A great all-round game.

Curtis Jones - 7.0: A really interesting performance. He provided the assist for Robertson's goal with great vision on the break. He was busy all over the pitch, recovering the ball six times and getting involved in the play. However, he also gave away a few fouls and sometimes his final ball was lacking. A positive, if slightly chaotic, display before being subbed.

Midfielders

Florian Wirtz - 6.0: A strangely quiet game for a player of his talent. We noticed he struggled to get into the game and lost possession 13 times, which is unlike him. He had one shot blocked but otherwise failed to make a significant impact on the attacking front. It felt like the game just passed him by. A disappointing outing.

Dominik Szoboszlai - 6.5: He was involved, but it was a day of 'almosts' for the Hungarian. He had a couple of shots blocked and was a willing runner, but an error of his led to a shot for the opposition. He worked hard and his passing was mostly tidy, but he lacked that decisive spark we've come to expect. An average day at the office.

Alexis Mac Allister - 7.5: The conductor in midfield. He was calm and composed on the ball, dictating the tempo for Liverpool, especially in the first half. He provided a smart assist for the opening goal and created another big chance. His five ball recoveries and ability to draw fouls were vital in breaking up Palace's rhythm. A very clever and influential performance.

Cody Gakpo - 6.5: A perplexing performance to rate. Gakpo was an absolute monster in the air, winning an incredible eight aerial duels. Yet, on the ground, he struggled, losing possession 13 times and looking clumsy in possession. He worked hard for the team but offered little in terms of attacking threat. A mixed bag, for sure.

Forwards

Mohamed Salah - 6.0: It was a frustrating afternoon for Salah, which was cut short by injury. Before he went off, he was struggling to get involved, losing possession 15 times in just 59 minutes. He won a penalty that was overturned by VAR and couldn't find his usual magic. Hopefully the injury isn't serious.

Alexander Isak - 7.5: Showed his clinical edge with a superb finish to open the scoring. He only had one shot on target, and he made it count. His movement troubled the Palace defence, and he linked up play effectively when he had the chance. His goal set the tone for Liverpool's victory before he was substituted.

Substitutes

Jeremie Frimpong - 6.5: Came on for the injured Salah and brought energy to the right flank. He was direct and won a couple of free kicks but didn't create anything clear-cut.

Ryan Gravenberch - 6.0: Replaced Isak to add fresh legs in the final stages. Helped see out the game without doing anything spectacular.

Joe Gomez - N/A: Came on for the final few minutes to shore up the defence.

Manager

A. Slot - 6.5: His team secured the three points, which is the main thing. The first-half performance was excellent, and the tactics worked perfectly. However, the way his side lost control in the second half will be a major concern. He'll be relieved to get the win but will know his team were fortunate in the end.

Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Liverpool

Check out the Crystal Palace player ratings vs Liverpool, featuring detailed analysis and player performances.

Goalkeeper

Dean Henderson - 6.0: A difficult day for the keeper. He couldn't do much about either of the well-placed goals he conceded. He was decisive in coming off his line to punch away danger on two occasions but wasn't called upon to make any other significant saves. The yellow card for dissent was unnecessary.

Defenders

Maxence Lacroix - 7.0: A very solid outing. He made six clearances and blocked two shots, putting his body on the line for his team. He was even a threat at the other end, forcing a save from a header and hitting the woodwork. He was a real warrior for Crystal Palace at Anfield.

Jaydee Canvot - 6.5: A composed and tidy performance in a tough environment. His passing was impressively accurate, and he made three successful tackles to halt Liverpool attacks. He was caught out a couple of times but generally held his own against a potent forward line.

Chris Richards - 5.5: It was a real struggle for Richards, particularly in the air. He won only two of his ten aerial duels, a battle he comprehensively lost against Liverpool's forwards. He missed a big chance with a header early on and looked off the pace. A day he'll want to forget.

Midfielders

Daniel Muñoz - 7.0: Scored an absolute screamer to drag his team back into the match. It was a moment of pure quality. However, he also picked up a yellow card and was sometimes rash in the challenge. His goal bumps up his rating significantly for a mixed overall performance.

Tyrick Mitchell - 6.0: Only lasted 45 minutes before being substituted. In that time, he created two chances, including one big one, but he also lost possession frequently. It felt like his manager wanted a different approach for the second half.

Daichi Kamada - 7.5: A brilliant midfield display. He was everywhere, winning seven of his eight duels and recovering the ball seven times. He was the engine room for Palace's second-half resurgence, driving the team forward and creating a big chance. A very impressive and energetic performance.

Adam Wharton - 7.5: The creative hub for Palace. He created three chances, including a big one, and was always looking to play a killer pass. His delivery from set-pieces and open play was excellent. A mature and inventive performance that deserved more.

Forwards

Ismaïla Sarr - 6.0: A frustrating day. He got into some great positions and forced two good saves from the keeper. But he also missed a big chance and was caught offside. He had the opportunity to be the hero but lacked the final product on the day.

Brennan Johnson - 6.5: Full of running and endeavour as always. He was a nuisance, drawing fouls and getting into good crossing positions. However, his final product was inconsistent, and he didn't seriously test the goalkeeper before being subbed.

Jean-Philippe Mateta - 5.0: From our perspective, this was the worst performance on the pitch. He was completely ineffective. He missed two big chances and lost almost every single aerial duel he contested. He offered very little and his substitution was inevitable. A really poor showing.

Substitutes

Borna Sosa - 6.5: Added more attacking impetus than Mitchell after coming on at halftime. Looked lively on the left.

Yéremy Pino - 7.0: Made a real impact, providing two assists for shots and looking dangerous with his pace and trickery.

Jørgen Strand Larsen - 6.5: Was desperately unlucky not to score the equalizer, hitting the post with a well-struck shot. Caused problems.

Manager

O. Glasner - 7.5: Deserves a lot of credit for the second-half turnaround. His halftime changes and subsequent substitutions were spot on. He set his team up to fight back, and they nearly pulled it off. A brave and tactically astute performance from the manager, even in defeat.