Analysis: Palace step uppublished at 22:50 BST 30 April
22:50 BST 30 April
Gary Rose BBC Sport journalist
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
Oliver Glasner's time as Crystal Palace coach will be over at the end of the season, but he has already given Eagles fans memories of a lifetime by leading them to last season's FA Cup triumph.
And he could finish with more silverware as the Conference League pre-season favourites put themselves in the perfect position to reach the showpiece on 27 May in Leipzig.
Crucial to Palace's run in the competition has been key players stepping up, and Ismaila Sarr continued his superb streak with an eighth goal, making him the joint top scorer this term, and taking his season's tally to 18 in all competitions.
Six of those strikes have come in the knockouts, proving his ability to rise to the big occasion.
But Sarr has not been alone in doing that, with Jean Philippe Mateta a handful for the Shakhtar defence before his replacement Jorgen Strand Larsen claimed a decisive goal to give Palace a two-goal cushion.
The Norwegian was Palace's record signing in the January transfer window following a deal worth up to £48m, but has struggled to live up to his price tag, having scored just three Premier League goals.
But Strand Larsen showed what he is capable of with his fine finish - his first in Europe and one that could not have come at a more important time for him and his club.
Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace: What Glasner saidpublished at 22:37 BST 30 April
22:37 BST 30 April
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, spoke to TNT Sports after his side's victory at Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League: "I'm very happy and very pleased with the performance. Credit to the players - they stuck to the plan and worked very hard, every single one in defence.
"We didn't give them a lot. They were a big threat from set-plays, yeah? This is where we conceded, but I think we were also the same when we went forward. When we were on the attack, it was always very threatening.
"I was really impressed with the reaction the team showed when we conceded the equaliser because, all of a sudden, we had two or three big chances, missed them, and then it was a long throw-in and we took the lead again, and then waited for our situations. Huge impacts from the bench.
"Overall, we are very pleased with the performance, but it's just the first step. I believe we have to perform even better at home to go to the final."
On his side's spirit: "It's an amazing group of people, of men, of characters. There is such a big spirit and great togetherness and we always believe in ourselves. There is no button we can press to switch it on, it is something we have created over months and years - that we know we can always come back and score a goal."
Palace goalscorer Jorgen Strand Larsen, also spoke to TNT Sports: "I needed that. I was unlucky against Liverpool; I felt like the confidence had dropped but always keep going. It's tough, two good players [himself and Jean-Philippe Mateta] fighting for one spot, but to come in and score is amazing.
"You could see after we scored early that they are a good team. We had to stay in, not lose our heads. We are 3-1 up but there is still a game to play. Important for me and the team to get a third.
"We know the structure of the manager and the team. We had to accept they are a good team so we had to sit a bit deeper today but we did well on the counter attack - and if we were even better we could have scored more.
"We are not going to over-celebrate. We are really happy with this, hopefully we are going to smash it on Thursday and go through."
Follow Thursday's European semi-finalspublished at 19:07 BST 30 April
19:07 BST 30 April
There are four semi-final first legs taking place in the Europa League and the Conference League on Thursday, and BBC Sport will be keeping you up to date.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Europa League commentary on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa".
Gossip: Palace consider McKenna and Lampard as future managerpublished at 07:30 BST 30 April
07:30 BST 30 April
Crystal Palace have drawn up a shortlist of six managers to replace Oliver Glasner at the end of the season, with both Coventry boss Frank Lampard and Ipswich's Kieran McKenna under consideration. (Independent, external)
Glasner on staying positive, Eintracht experience and Shakhtarpublished at 19:40 BST 29 April
19:40 BST 29 April
Huzaifah Khan BBC Sport journalist
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Conference League semi-final first leg tie against Shakhtar Donetsk at Synerise Arena (kick-off 20:00 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news, Glasner said Evann Guessand is "progressing" with his recovery from injury and he could be available "for a few minutes" for the second leg.
The Eagles boss was asked about how his side is feeling ahead of the semi-final and responded: "The team is fit. The team is looking forward. We have a good mood, a great atmosphere, and even when we lost at Liverpool, we took a lot of positives into this game."
He added: "We always want to win every single game and that's what we want to do tomorrow as well."
On his message to the players, he said: "Be yourself, play our style, express yourself, play with confidence, try to score goals, work very hard to avoid chances for the opposition, but the most important thing is play our style." He added that you can win and lose in sports but if his side don't show their identity they "can lose twice".
The Austrian boss said his experience winning the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt helped him "learn as a manager".
He added: "The European journey with Frankfurt and the similarities in togetherness and spirit and the great character of the team, that is maybe why we are playing a semi-final with Crystal Palace."
On whether he believes his side can win the competition, he said: "At the end, you always get what you deserve. We have huge desire, we have the confidence and the belief that we can win against Shakhtar, but we always have huge respect for the way they play."
On Shakhtar's main threat, Glasner said: "To be honest they have many threats. The strikers, the wingers, they always play inverted wingers. We don't know exactly because they're always rotating, but the midfielders are always attacking the box. Then they have very attacking full-backs. The style is very important."
'Every chance via the Conference League'published at 13:33 BST 29 April
13:33 BST 29 April
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on Crystal Palace's chances of qualifying for European football this season, with just four fixtures left for Oliver Glasner's side to stake their claim.
Here are some of your thoughts:
Daniel: We only need to win two games for Oliver Glasner to go out on a high, Crystal Palace to win another trophy and European football to return to Selhurst Park.
Karim: While I do think we can be competitive given our results across the league this season, the only realistic chance we have at Europe is through winning the Conference League. We are one of the only teams that has to play both Arsenal and Manchester City before the end of this season, so all our focus should be on Shakhtar Donetsk to make the final in Leipzig.
Grant: We have every chance via a Conference League win, but not much of a chance through league position. Should we qualify, we need more creativity and goal threat in the midfield. We also need back-up for Daniel Munoz, as those games when he was out were dismal to see. I like Joao Gomes from Wolves.
Mike: I would love to say yes, but alas we are just not good enough and we lack a coherent transfer policy. When you consider that next season we would've been in the Premier League for 14 seasons, we should've progressed much better among our peers, with the exception of the FA Cup. Until Steve Parish steps aside, this will not change.
David: We will likely have a weaker squad and a new manager next season, so honestly I hope we aren't in Europe.
Ben: I think we have to. After the demotion last year, it became necessary to win. If we don't win the Europa League next season so be it, but we deserve to be there because we won the FA Cup!
Palace interested in Wolves' Joao Gomespublished at 10:57 BST 28 April
10:57 BST 28 April
Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Joao Gomes has made 38 appearances for Wolves in all competitions this season
Crystal Palace have expressed an interest in signing Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes.
The Brazil international, 25, is expected to leave Molineux Stadium after the club was relegated to the Championship.
Palace have held early contact with Gomes' agency, with Wolves currently asking for offers of around £40m.
Atletico Madrid are also believed to have expressed an interest in Gomes and are widely known to be strong favourites for his signature as they look at add a midfielder to their squad this summer.
They have, however, also shown an interest in Atalanta midfielder Ederson which may open up opportunities for Gomes to move elsewhere, including within the Premier League.
The summer transfer window will open on 15 June 2026 and close on 31 August 2026.
This is your club page. Bookmark it or if you're on a browser and signed in, press 'follow' so you start seeing more on your team when you visit BBC Sport. On the app? Sign in and hit the bell icon to select news notifications and you'll get sent key content.
'Wasteful' Palace wait on 'spring resurgence'published at 09:36 BST 28 April
09:36 BST 28 April
Alex Pewter Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
While Saturday's defeat to Liverpool had fewer ramifications on Crystal Palace's season, if only due to the Conference League, the story felt familiar.
Having failed to score from all five of their Opta-defined big chances, the home team scored three from the five shots left unblocked by the Palace defence.
As many are already aware, the overall attacking picture this season isn't pretty: across the 50 games publicly tracked, excluding the pair of Fredrikstad matches in August, Palace have exceeded their xG in 14 games, which, ironically, includes the historic Macclesfield FA Cup loss.
The combined figures across all competitions mean Oliver Glasner's team is under-performing their expected goals total by just over 22 goals.
While Jean-Philippe Mateta may be the largest single offender by volume, in a display of solidarity, every other regular player that's not named Daniel Munoz, finds themselves in the negative column as well.
Perhaps we can thank Freddie Woodman for the Colombian's exception to the rule.
Even with a recent uptick in overall performances, there isn't an upward trend in the team's finishing. So, in victory, the team is often still leaving goals on the table, except for the Tottenham game back in March.
We can accept the team may be, for better or worse, what it is, but it is a concern heading into a pair of critical European games against Shakhtar Donetsk.
Palace, the most wasteful team overall in the competition, are -7.7 goals under their xG, while Shakhtar, the largest overperformers, are +5.2 goals above theirs – as highlighted in their clinical games against AZ Alkmaar.
Palace fans have been accustomed to a spring resurgence in attacking form under Glasner, and while there are plenty of positive signs in how the team continues to create chances, now is the time for the goals to follow suit.
Steve: Still not a great watch. However, injuries are forcing the selection at the moment. Results around us are going in our favour, which will probably save Slot. Still very uneasy being one of the teams in the Premier league covering the least ground.
Keith: Finally managing to find the net in the past few games is making all the difference, as is a tighter set-up defending set-pieces. We're still far too easy to play through and had zero pressure on the ball often in the game. It was a lot more even than the score suggests - however, the referee stopping the game every time Palace's number 10 fell over when we were on the break, but failing to do when Woodman was clearly injured, didn't endear himself to the crowd. Two fantastic goals from Robbo and Wirtz sent us home happy and probably into the Champions League next season.
Christian: Slot IN! Despite everything that's happened this year, we are in with a shout of finishing third. Excellent performance. Essential points. A day in the sun for Liverpool, literally and figuratively.
John: It is worrying that Liverpool seem to be considering keeping Slot as manager. His style of football is so boring and hard to watch for supporters. Surely the hierarchy are listening to supporters and looking to change the manager to someone who will ask his players to work hard, press high and play quicker. The crowd was so quiet and that was down to the way we were playing. No intensity, no pressing, no creativity. We want a team that plays exciting football please.
Palace fans
Al: Strong display ruined by profligate finishing, which is a theme throughout this season. Shakhtar away next could be a defining moment in a season that has been topsy-turvy but still promises silverware.
Paul: Can't believe a Liverpool manager complaining about decisions going against them. Over the years they have had a ridiculous run of the green. Far too may players go down (usually holding their heads) to get play stopped. This time the keeper (who had been excellent btw) goes down after a save and Munoz rightly slots it home (not that easy either). Woodman then makes an instant recovery and plays the rest of the game with no issue.
Robin: A good display. More shots and more on target than Liverpool, who had only three on target and three goals. That's the difference in quality.
Marcus: Andy Madley's performance really needs to be looked at as it was one of the worst I've seen this season. So many decisions given to Liverpool which were laughable, but it appears if you scream loud enough then you'll get a free-kick. Liverpool were very, very lucky.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:07 BST 26 April
11:07 BST 26 April
Pundits Martin Keown and Steph Houghton join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.
Analysis: More shots, more attempts on target, no pointspublished at 18:21 BST 25 April
18:21 BST 25 April
Neil Johnston BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Crystal Palace were bidding to become the first club to defeat Liverpool four times in one season.
After winning a penalty shootout against the Reds in the Community Shield, Oliver Glasner's side had also won the two meetings between the clubs in the Premier League and Carabao Cup.
It looked like Palace were out of this after conceding twice in five minutes towards the end of the first half.
But Daniel Munoz's goal left Liverpool edgy, with Palace having more shots and registering more attempts on target as they threw everything at the hosts.
Despite this defeat, Palace's season is very much alive and they will now start preparing for Thursday's Conference League semi-final first leg against Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland.
Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: What Glasner saidpublished at 17:30 BST 25 April
17:30 BST 25 April
Media caption,
Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner, speaking to Sky Sports: "The difference was the efficiency. Liverpool were clinical, and we were not. The goalkeeper had the day of his life, so congrats to him. We kept believing until the end. It was really positive, and this is what we take into the final weeks."
On Daniel Munoz's goal: "It was a difficult situation because he made a big save but the ball goes to Munoz. Everything goes so quickly. He could continue the game until the end and that's why we think it was the right decision. I think that is was OK.
"When you watch it on TV. It's on the edge, to be honest. He makes the save, then tries to get up then he raises his arm but Munoz is already taking the finish. If he hits his head then the game has to be stopped. It was the right decision I think.
"I told them that I think it was our best performance here against Liverpool. We were very competitive here today. I showed them the stats. 2-0 down at half-time, you could say we rest our power for the Conference League semi-final and maybe lose 4-0 or something. This performance will give us a lot of confidence for the rest of the season."
Did you know?
Crystal Palace's non-penalty xG total (2.32) is the biggest by a visiting side at Anfield in all competitions this season, and the biggest since Arsenal's 2.58 in May last season.
Crystal Palace have lost five of their last eight Premier League away games (W2 D1), one more than in their previous 23 matches on the road in the competition (W12 D7).
This is the start of a big week for Crystal Palace, who play a Conference League semi-final next Thursday.
Boss Oliver Glasner recalls Jean-Philippe Mateta, Ismaila Sarr, Adam Wharton, and Daichi Kamada to the starting XI as Palace chase a fourth win over Liverpool this season.
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play West Ham v Everton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Newcastle", for instance.
Sutton's predictions: Liverpool v Crystal Palacepublished at 11:04 BST 25 April
11:04 BST 25 April
I watched Liverpool win at Hill Dickinson Stadium last week and they got away with it.
Virgil van Dijk's 100th-minute winner was harsh on Everton and harsh on me too - I would have had the BBC predictions title wrapped up again if the score had stayed at 1-1 and I could have been celebrating already.
The result was what mattered for Reds boss Arne Slot, though, not the performance. I mentioned last week how Slot really needs a strong end to the campaign and to secure Champions League football for next season and another win here would move them even closer to that.
All the noise coming out of Anfield doesn't indicate there is going to be a managerial change come the end of the season, but that can always change if results drop off - look at what happened to Liam Rosenior at Chelsea.
It would not surprise me if Crystal Palace went to Anfield and won because they have done it already this season and appear well-suited to playing Liverpool.
The Eagles have already got the better of them three times this season - on penalties at Wembley to decide the Community Shield, in the Premier League at Selhurst Park and then at Anfield in the Carabao Cup.
Palace are over their mid-season blip too but, on the flip side, they don't have much to play for in the league now they are essentially safe.
They may also have Europe on their mind, because the Conference League gives them a chance of another trophy and they play Shakhtar on Thursday.
But Liverpool are far from convincing at the moment - Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz look miles off it - so why I do I still feel myself edging towards Liverpool here?
Liverpool v Crystal Palace: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 19:28 BST 24 April
19:28 BST 24 April
Liverpool look to move a step closer to Champions League qualification against a Crystal Palace side they have failed to beat in all three of their meetings so far this season. BBC Sport takes a look at the key themes ahead of Saturday's fixture (15:00 BST).
Eagles proving to be Liverpool's bogey team
Crystal Palace have been a thorn in Liverpool's side this season with the Eagles unbeaten in all three of their encounters across three different competitions.
Their 3-0 victory at Anfield in the League Cup was particularly galling for the Reds and means the south Londoners have the chance to become the first team since Arsenal in 2006-07 to win away at Liverpool twice in the same season.
A victory would also mark only their third league double over the Reds and the first time they have beaten the reigning champions of the English top flight twice in the same season.
They travel to Merseyside in great form having gone four league games unbeaten and having lost just one of their last eight in all competitions. Their goalless draw with West Ham on Monday may have been their sixth 0-0 of the season, but a 12th clean sheet is a figure that can only be surpassed in the top flight by Arsenal and Manchester City.
In fact, since Oliver Glasner's first game in charge in February 2024, only the Gunners (36) and City (32) have more shutouts in the league than Palace's 28.
Glasner's side will of course have one eye on the first leg of Thursday's Europa Conference League semi-final away at Shakhtar Donetsk as they target a second major trophy in their history, a mere year after they won their first.
They left Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr on bench for their match with the Hammers on Monday and it remains to be seen if Glasner will take a similar course of action at Anfield. Liverpool fans will be hoping that Sarr stays unused given he has already scored four goals against them this season.
Liverpool edge closer to Champions League spot
Liverpool's stunning late win over Everton on their Hill Dickinson debut - allied to Chelsea's woeful run of form - means Arne Slot's side remain in pole position for a Champions League place. They are five points clear of sixth-placed Brighton with a game in hand and may be grateful for that buffer given their next three fixtures come against Manchester United (a), Chelsea (h) and Aston Villa (a).
After a sticky patch of three league games without a win, back-to-back victories have eased the pressure somewhat on Slot.
The fact it took until the 99th minute to decide their derby with Everton should come as no surprise given the late drama that has followed them around this season.
It was the ninth 90th-minute winning goal scored in Liverpool's Premier League fixtures this campaign with four going their way and five ending in defeats. Incredibly that is two more than in any other team's matches across a season in Premier League history.
In goal could be third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman, who made his first league appearance for Liverpool off the bench against Everton. In what was a sensational weekend for his family, his dad Andy, who manages Bromley, celebrated promotion to League One for the first time in their history. Both Freddie and Andy started their footballing careers in Crystal Palace's academy.
Image source, AFP via Getty Images
