Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premier League after a 3-1 triumph over Crystal Palace, but the victory was tinged with uncertainty for Mohamed Salah, who may have played his last match for the Reds. Alexander Isak opened the scoring, marking his first goal since December, and Andy Robertson doubled the lead before Palace pulled one back in a contentious manner when Daniel Muñoz lofted the ball over an injured Freddie Woodman. Florian Wirtz then sealed the win with a late strike in stoppage time. The match also turned into a potential farewell for Salah.
The Egyptian forward, who has announced his intention to leave Liverpool at the end of the season after nine years, collapsed just before the 60‑minute mark with a left‑hamstring problem. Head coach Arne Slot admitted the prognosis was still unclear, noting Salah's habit of staying on the pitch even when the team is already winning comfortably. "If we were 6-0 and I took him off two minutes before the final whistle, he'd still be saying, 'I could have scored two more'," Slot said, adding that the severity of the injury would need further assessment.
Despite the drama, Liverpool were able to capitalize on Aston Villa's loss to Fulham on Saturday, overtaking them on goal difference and drawing level with Manchester United while extending an eight‑point cushion over sixth‑placed Brighton. The Anfield atmosphere was electric, with thousands of supporters waving yellow cards to protest planned ticket‑price hikes, and the home side even had a penalty decision overturned after a VAR review. Salah's early chance came when he broke through the Palace defence, only to be brought down by Brennan Johnson's sliding challenge. Referee Andy Madley initially pointed to the spot, but a quick VAR check revealed Johnson had made contact with the ball, and the penalty was rescinded.
Liverpool soon restored their dominance when Isak, reacting to an off‑target shot from Alexis Mac Allister, controlled the rebound and flicked the ball over goalkeeper Dean Henderson into the right‑hand corner for his first Premier League goal at Anfield. Freddie Woodman, making his first start for Liverpool in place of the injured Giorgi Mamardashvili and Alisson, performed admirably, denying Jean‑Philippe Mateta twice in quick succession. The second save, a close‑range header, sparked a swift Liverpool counter‑attack that culminated in Curtis Jones delivering a low pass to Robertson, who finished neatly, marking one of his final appearances at Anfield. Palace struggled to find a way past Woodman in the first half, with Maxence Lacroix's downward header being blocked by a combination of the keeper and the right post.
The second half was dominated by injuries. Salah, after completing a trademark run, pulled up and received a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd. Shortly thereafter, Woodman appeared to injure his knee while making a save from Sarr, but Daniel Muñoz capitalised on the moment, lofting the ball over the disoriented keeper to equalise. The third‑choice goalkeeper managed to stay on the pitch, and Palace narrowly missed a second equaliser when substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen's effort struck the inside of the left post.
Florian Wirtz then ensured Liverpool's three points by smashing a shot off the woodwork and into the net in the dying minutes. The line‑up for Liverpool was: Woodman; Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Mac Allister, Jones; Salah, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak.
Substitutes used included Frimpong, Gravenberch, Gomez and Kerkez. Palace fielded Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Johnson, Mateta, Sarr, with bench options Sosa, Pino and Strand Larsen. Andy Robertson was named Player of the Match.
In post‑match comments, Robertson reflected on Muñoz's goal: "I was the closest player to him, and I think he only looked up once Freddie got back on his feet. In a game like this, you hope the referee doesn't punish you, because it could have turned a 2‑0 lead into a 2‑2 draw.
No one is to blame; it's part of football." Woodman described his injury: "The grass was very dry and my knee got stuck. I felt pain on the inside of my knee and wasn't sure whether to get up and hobble or stay down. It was a confusing moment, but fortunately the game continued without further penalty." Slot addressed the controversial Palace goal: "Because of that goal the game became much more tense, and I don't think we deserved to concede in that manner.
Palace were more dangerous than the 2‑0 score suggested, so I wasn't surprised they found a way to score in the second half. The way we conceded was unexpected, and it raises questions about referee consistency." He continued, "There have been countless times when a player is down and the referee blows for a foul, yet we see simulation.
We pride ourselves on being a fair team; we don't fall to the floor unless there's a genuine injury. When a player is seriously hurt, the referee should stop play." Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner commented on Muñoz's goal: "We consulted the fourth official, Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk after the incident. We reviewed the footage and saw that the keeper got up.
If he hadn't and needed to be substituted, Palace could have scored a serious goal. The ball went to Daniel Muñoz, the keeper raised his arm, but it was unclear whether he saw it.
The referee has to stop the game if he believes there's a serious injury, but in this case the decision to continue was, in our view, appropriate." Overall, the match showcased Liverpool's attacking depth, with contributions from new signings like Isak and Wirtz, while also highlighting the physical toll of a demanding season. Salah's injury adds another layer of intrigue to his impending departure, and the club will be monitoring his recovery closely as they aim to secure a top‑four finish and challenge for silverware in the final stretch of the campaign.