Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premier League after a hard‑fought 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace, but the match may also have marked the end of Mohamed Salah's time on the pitch for the Reds. Alexander Isak, who had not found the net since December, opened the scoring, while Andy Robertson doubled the lead before Palace pulled one back in controversial fashion when Daniel Muñoz lofted the ball over an injured Freddie Woodman. Florian Wirtz then struck in stoppage time to seal the three points for Liverpool. Salah, who announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season after nine years, collapsed just before the hour‑mark with a painful left‑hamstring pull.
The injury has thrown his availability for the final four league games into doubt. Liverpool manager Arne Slot cautioned that it was too early to give a definitive prognosis, noting that Salah is a player who rarely quits a match voluntarily. "If we were winning 6-0 and I took him off with two minutes left, he would still be saying, 'I could have scored two more'," Slot said, adding that the severity of the hamstring problem would need further assessment.
The win also allowed Liverpool to overtake Aston Villa on goal difference after Villa suffered a defeat to Fulham on Saturday. The Reds now sit level on points with Manchester United and enjoy an eight‑point cushion over Brighton, who occupy sixth place. The atmosphere at Anfield was electric but also turbulent. Thousands of fans displayed yellow cards to protest a proposed increase in ticket prices, and the home side had a penalty claim overturned after a VAR review.
Salah’s early involvement was dramatic. He broke through on goal and was brought down by a sliding challenge from Brighton forward Brennan Johnson. Referee Andy Madley initially pointed to the spot, but after a VAR check the decision was reversed because Johnson had made contact with the ball before the foul. Liverpool soon restored their dominance when Isak controlled a wayward shot from Alexis Mac Allister, turned it into a looping effort that beat Palace keeper Dean Henderson and found the right‑hand corner for his first Premier League goal at Anfield.
Freddie Woodman, making his first start for Liverpool after injuries to Giorgi Mamardashvili and Alisson Becker, performed admirably. He denied Jean‑Philippe Mateta twice in quick succession, the second save from a close‑range header sparking a swift Liverpool counter‑attack that ended with Curtis Jones feeding Andy Robertson, who slotted home calmly in what was one of his final appearances at the stadium. Palace struggled to break through Woodman's solid performance in the first half, with Maxence Lacroix’s header being cleared off the line by a combination of Woodman and the right post. The second half was dominated by injuries and drama.
Salah, after completing a trademark run into the box, suddenly stopped in pain and was greeted with a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd. Shortly afterwards, Woodman appeared to injure his knee while making a save from Sarr, and Muñoz took advantage, lobbing the ball over the down‑and‑out goalkeeper for an equaliser.
The third‑choice keeper, who had been on the bench, was forced to stay on the field and narrowly avoided conceding another goal when substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen’s shot struck the inside of the left post. Florian Wirtz later sealed the result with a powerful finish that ricocheted off the woodwork before finding the net. The match line‑ups were as follows: Liverpool started with Woodman in goal; a back four of Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk and Robertson; a midfield trio of Mac Allister, Jones and Salah; and a forward line of Wirtz, Gakpo and Isak. Crystal Palace fielded Henderson in goal, a defence of Richards, Lacroix, Canvot and Munoz, and a midfield of Wharton, Kamada and Mitchell, with Johnson, Mateta and Sarr leading the attack.
Andy Robertson was named Player of the Match for his composure and decisive goal. In post‑match comments, Robertson reflected on Muñoz’s goal, saying, "I was the closest player to him and I don’t think he looked up until after Freddie got back on his feet. In a game like this you hope the referee doesn’t punish you because it could have turned the result on its head. No one is to blame; it’s part of football." Woodman described his own injury, explaining that the dry grass caused his knee to get stuck, resulting in pain on the inside of the joint.
He was unsure whether to get up and continue or remain down, noting the uncertainty that goalkeepers face when they go to ground. Arne Slot criticised the handling of the Palace goal, calling the situation "nervy" and stating that his side did not deserve to concede in that manner. He also expressed frustration with refereeing decisions, highlighting a pattern where the whistle is blown while a player is down, leading to controversy. Slot emphasized Liverpool’s reputation as a fair team that does not feign injury, and he urged referees to stop play when a genuine injury occurs.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner defended his side’s actions after Muñoz’s goal, saying that they consulted the fourth official and discussed the incident with Slot and Van Dijk. He noted that if Woodman had been unable to continue, Palace could have faced a serious disadvantage. Glasner argued that the referee’s decision to keep play going was appropriate given the ambiguous nature of the goalkeeper’s condition.
Overall, the match provided a mixture of triumph, controversy, and concern for Liverpool’s future. The win keeps the Reds firmly in the Champions League race, but the potential loss of Salah for the remainder of the season could force manager Arne Slot to adjust his tactics and rely on other attacking options as the campaign reaches its climax.