Wirtz breaks goalscoring duck as Liverpool send Palace boss closer to exit door

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Yet what will frustrate Sage the most on this occasion is that, until Liverpool’s second just after half-time, Palace were well in this match. Yet after the first 15 minutes, Palace were the team on the ascendancy.

Alexander Isak scored Liverpool's third in south London (PA)Pierre Sage now appears to be on the brink (Getty)His provocative celebration in front of the Holmesdale End only added to the home crowd's fury. Palace’s momentum was stymied by the break though and when Barcola’s square ball after a surge down the right found Wirtz, the German found the attribute he so often has been accused of lacking since his £105m arrival on these shores: composure.

It was indicative of Palace’s fortunes: neat build-up, a large intake of breath in the box before failing to find the back of the net. Even Milos Kerkez’s brainless foul on Dario Osorio in stoppage time, clattering the Palace substitute’s head in the box, which resulted in Nketiah’s consolation penalty, could not brighten the mood.