---
title: "Maxence Lacroix Insists Liverpool Loss ‘Prepares’ Crystal Palace For Conference League"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2026/04/27/maxence-lacroix-liverpool-loss-prepares-crystal-palace-for-conference-league-football-news/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Matt Guyett"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2026-04-27T10:52:57Z"
modified: "2026-04-27T10:56:01Z"
---

# Maxence Lacroix Insists Liverpool Loss ‘Prepares’ Crystal Palace For Conference League

- Crystal Palace beaten by Liverpool
- Maxence Lacroix felt they deserved better
- Frenchman feels it prepared team for European semi-final

**Maxence Lacroix is taking the positives from Crystal Palace’s 3-1 loss to Liverpool and claims that it serves as preparation for their UEFA Conference League semi-final tie. The Eagles were beaten at Anfield on Saturday.**

Alexander Isak opened the scoring for the hosts before Andy Robertson made it two just before half-time. Palace hit back through a controversial Daniel Munoz goal, but Florian Wirtz ensured Oliver Glasner’s men left Merseyside empty-handed.

The Eagles put in a good performance but just lacked a killer instinct up top. The visitors even had 13 shots to the hosts’ nine, but the club’s former youth goalkeeper, Freddie Woodman, was superb between the sticks.

## Lacroix: We deserved something better

Lacroix gave his thoughts on the defeat and felt that Palace were unfortunate not to come away with something. He told [club media](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/first-team/lacroix-anfield-prepared-us-well-for-european-semi-final/):

*“I think we deserved something better. We had the best chances, but we weren’t really efficient in front of goal.”*

Glasner’s unbeaten record at Anfield ended with the loss on Saturday but his side rued missed opportunities. This was touched on by Lacroix:

*“I think we played well. It’s not easy to play like this in Anfield. We could score, I think, two goals. It’s the finish, the last step \[we missed\]. We have to say congratulations to the goalkeeper. He made some really good saves.”*

He added:

*“Maybe we need more accuracy in front of the goal, but we are sure that next game we will score the goals.”*

Palace turn their attention to Thursday’s encounter with Shakhtar Donetsk in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final. Their French centre-back is clearly ready for the trip to Poland:

*“I think this match prepares us well for the Conference League. We showed a great performance. We’re ready for the next match in Europe.”*

Palace’s chances of qualifying for Europe via their Premier League finish are now all but over. They sit 13th, six points behind seventh-placed Bournemouth with five games remaining.

## ‘A Beautiful Achievement’

Lacroix continued to affirm that Palace were now gearing up for their first-ever European semi-final. Glasner’s men travel to Krakow, Poland to face Ukrainian side Shakhtar.

The Frenchman said:

*“We’re ready – I think we showed it. The result was a bit tough, but we played good football. We were able to put Liverpool in trouble. That’s what want to do in these matches in the Conference League.*“

He added:

*“For Palace to play in the semi-finals of the Conference League, it’s a beautiful achievement. But everyone knows that we want more, so we go there to win, of course.*“

Shakhtar head into Thursday’s game off the back of a 3-1 win over FC Kudrivka. They sit top of the Ukrainian Premier League and will be tough opposition given their European experience.