Crystal Palace

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace will be hoping to carry their winning momentum into the weekend when they face Bournemouth, after Thursday's 3-1 win at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final.

Speaking after the game, striker Jorgen Strand Larsen - who scored the Eagles' third goal from the penalty spot - said: "Let's take it one day at a time, one game at a time. Now we are getting ready for Sunday.

"We want to finish off well in the Premier League as well, so we have got loads of games to look forward to."

Palace boss Oliver Glasner could make some changes following their successful night in Europe.

Yeremy Pino started in Poland, with Brennan Johnson dropping to the bench, with Strand Larsen pushing for a recall after being a substitute on Thursday.

Sunday's hosts Bournemouth start the weekend in seventh, six points ahead of 14th-placed Palace and on a 13-game unbeaten run.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Crystal Palace's 3-1 win over Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final.

Here are some of your comments:

Steve: A strong performance where Kamada and Wharton bossed the middle of the park. Now to finish the job next week and then Leipzig here we come. A dream almost coming true. I never thought I would witness Palace playing in a European competition let alone getting to a final! COYP.

Dale: Fabulous performance! Away leg, I'd have been happy with a draw and wouldn't have been devastated with a one goal deficit. A 3-1 lead is dreamland. It's by no means certain yet, but surely one foot is in the final now.

JHC: That's our season in a nutshell - we create enough chances and last night we took them. So often we don't! Job only half done, but coming back to Selhurst with a two goal lead is a dream.

Redders: Typical Palace, never do it easy. Miraculous start, followed by 60 minutes of dross. We then switch on again and finish it off. Please, please, please, recreate minute one and 65-90 again next week.

Dave: What a fantastic result and what a great performance away from home. I was speaking to one of the player's agents on the way to the home game against Newcastle United. He asked me what I thought about Daichi Kamada and I've got to admit I said I wasn't sure but how wrong was I. He was amazing tonight with his goal and assist. He commanded the middle of midfield with Wharton at his side but there were many heroes in the team. We are close now to the final. Go for it Palace.

Al: The same vibe as last season with a sense of something special in the air. The defence is getting meaner and players are stepping up. There's a strong collective desire for more success. The European dream remains alive.

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Being a club's record signing brings with it a certain pressure. Some players rise to deal with it and others struggle.

For Jorgen Strand Larsen, it seemed for a while it was a case of the latter.

The Norwegian striker joined Crystal Palace from Wolverhampton Wanderers on 2 February in a deal worth up to £48m, but managed just three Premier League goals in 14 games for the Eagles before Thursday's Conference League semi-final first leg.

However, his fourth goal could arguably be his most important as he produced a moment of magic to give Palace a 3-1 lead against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Polish city of Krakow.

Substitute Strand Larsen raced on to a pass by Daichi Kamada in the 84th minute, broke into the area and showed excellent composure to sidestep a sliding challenge and then clip in a neat finish over the advancing Shakhtar keeper Dmytro Riznyk.

The delightful strike gave Oliver Glasner's side a two-goal cushion going into the second leg at Selhurst Park on Thursday, 7 May, and they surely have one foot in a first major European final.

"We were not sure if he had had a touch and that is what is impressive, the calmness and then to dink it into the corner," said former Tottenham and England midfielder Glenn Hoddle on TNT Sports.

"If that was Harry Kane scoring that goal we would all be saying 'wow what a beautiful goal'."

• Read more on Palace's win

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, 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.

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."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Crystal Palace's performance

Come back on Friday for a selection of your replies

Shakhtar Donetsk bring back Valeriy Bondar, Vinicius Tobias and Pedro Henrique into the starting line-up after they were rested at the weekend.

Shakhtar Donetsk XI: Riznyk, Bondar, Marlon Gomes, Eguinaldo, Pedrinho, Pedro Henrique, Tobias, Kaua Elias, Matviyenko, Ocheretko, Alisson Santana

Subs: Tvardovskyi, Traore, Marlon Santos, Newertton, Isaque, Azarov, Ghram, Bondarenko, Nazaryna, Lucas Ferreira, Luca Meirelles, Obah

Crystal Palace make one change from the side that lost to Liverpool at the weekend as Yeremy Pino comes in for Brennan Johnson.

In-form Ismaila Sarr starts as he looks to get his sixth goal in the knockouts.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Pino, Mateta.

Subs: Benitez, Matthews, Riad, Clyne, Cardines, Sosa, Hughes, Devenny, Lerma, Johnson, Strand Larsen.

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.

Europa League:

• Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Sporting Braga v Freiburg

Conference League:

• Rayo Vallecano v Strasbourg

• Shakhtar Donetsk v Crystal Palace

Kick-off times 20:00 BST

Get in-depth coverage of Forest v Villa, plus updates from Braga v Freiburg here

And go here for live text commentary of Palace's game, plus Rayo Vallecano v Strasbourg updates

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".

Find out more about how to listen to football on BBC Sounds

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)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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."

Got a question about Palace? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

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!

Image source, Getty Images

It's still all to play for in Crystal Palace's remaining Premier League games, as well is in the Conference League of course.

The permutations for getting into Europe this season are complex, but BBC Sport's Dale Johnson has broken them down here.

Do you think Selhurst Park will host European football next season? If so, why are you confident? If not, what can take the club on to that next step?

Get in touch with your views here

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

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.

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.

Find more from Alex Pewter at FYP podcast, external

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Liverpool fans

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.

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.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham 2-1 Everton

• Wolves 0-1 Tottenham

• Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle

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.

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).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Liverpool's performance

What did you make of Palace's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Freddie Woodman makes his first Premier League start for Liverpool against the team he played for at youth level.

Armin Pecsi is named as back-up keeper on the bench as Alisson has still not fully recovered from injury despite returning from injury.

Alexis Mac Allister returns to the midfield in place of Ryan Gravenberch, who is on the bench.

Liverpool XI: Woodman, Jones, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Salah, Wirtz, Isak, Gakpo.

Subs: Pecsi, Gomez, Kerkez, Chiesa, Frimpong, Gravenberch, Nyoni, Ngumoha, Wright.

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.

Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Munoz, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell, Johnson, Mateta, Sarr.

Subs: Benítez, Clyne, Riad, Sosa, Devenny, Lerma, Hughes, Pino, Strand Larsen.