Crystal Palace slipped to a desperately disappointing 3-1 defeat against Liverpool to all but put an end to their chase for a European place by virtue of their Premier League position.
Crystal Palace slipped to a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool in a result that effectively put an end to their Premier League season.
First half goals from Alexander Isak and Andy Robertson put Liverpool into a commanding 2-0 lead at half-time.
Daniel Munoz did get one back for the away side to make things interesting with 20 minutes to go.
But Florian Wirtz put an end to any potential comeback with a 96th minute goal that put an end to proceedings.
Palace were chasing a fourth victory over Liverpool this season, having previously defeated them in the Community Shield, Premier League and Carabao Cup.
But today, they were unable to find themselves the chances required early on and were largely outplayed in the first half by a Liverpool side who moved above Aston Villa into fourth in the Premier League table after a third straight win in the league.
There were some nerves amongst the hosts when Colombian Munoz scored.
The Eagles then had more shots and more shots on target in that period of the game, but were unable to quite find the necessary goal to pull back the scores.
Liverpool’s Freddie Woodman was extremely busy throughout proceedings and it was an afternoon in which Palace failed to take their chances to push the Reds hard enough.
Chris Richards and Brennan Johnson both missed big chances early on and Liverpool were awarded a penalty which was subsequently overruled for VAR.
Isak and then Robertson scored, with the Scottish left back’s goal coming following a sensational double save from Woodman on Jean-Philippe Mateta chances.
Maxence Lacroix had a header cleared off the line by Woodman, while there was a further chance for Borna Sosa.
Munoz scored and for a while it looked as though Palace may grab an equaliser but then Wirtz scored late on to put the game to bed.
It is a result that sees Palace now five points adrift of the European places with a game in hand against title chasing Manchester City their only lifeline.
Oliver Glasner, Christ Richards and captain Dean Henderson have all reiterated the importance of the Premier League as well as the Conference League but with this defeat and them being in the final four of their maiden European campaign, this stance surely changes.
Palace face Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday in Poland in the first leg of the Conference League semi-final, before a visit to Bournemouth, who continue their incredible unbeaten run.
They then return to face Shakhtar in the second leg at Selhurst Park, with the four remaining Premier League matches coming in a 14 day period against Everton, Brentford, Manchester City and Arsenal.