Florian Wirtz scored his first Premier League goal this season when he slotted home a low Bradley Barcola cross into the bottom corner nine minutes into the second half, giving Liverpool a commanding 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Andoni Iraola's side erased the bitter taste of successive losses to Arsenal and Fenerbahce with a comfortable win. Alexis Mac Allister put Liverpool ahead late in the first half before Wirtz doubled the Reds' advantage. Alexander Isak netted the third in the 89th minute with a deflected close-range strike, while Eddie Nketiah scored a stoppage-time penalty for Palace.
Liverpool are now up to fourth place after their fourth away league win this season. It was a much-needed success for Iraola, who had started to hear some awkward questions about Liverpool's inconsistent run in his first season in charge after arriving from Bournemouth to replace the sacked Arne Slot.
Yeremy Pino went agonisingly close to opening the scoring for Palace in the 18th minute when he curled against the bar. Palace striker Jorgen Strand Larsen had the ball in the back of Alisson Becker's net in the 33rd minute, but his celebrations were cut short by an offside flag and a subsequent VAR check. Mac Allister made Palace pay for those misses in the 40th minute, nodding home a Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick in clinical fashion. Wirtz increased Liverpool's advantage in the 54th minute. Palace had a huge chance with just under 15 minutes remaining when Pino was denied by Alisson, who then saved from Jefferson Lerma before Nketiah lashed over. Sweden striker Isak put the result beyond doubt in the 89th minute. Palace earned a penalty after Dario Osorio clashed heads with Milos Kerkez, but Nketiah's goal was no consolation for under-fire Eagles boss Pierre Sage.