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 club. Alexander Isak opened the scoring, marking his first goal since December, and Andy Robertson doubled the lead before Palace pulled one back in a controversial fashion when Daniel Muñoz lofted the ball over a struggling Freddie Woodman. Florian Wirtz then sealed the win with a late strike in stoppage time.
Salah, who announced his intention to leave Liverpool after nine seasons, suffered a left‑hamstring pull just before the hour‑mark. The injury has cast doubt over his availability for the final four league fixtures. "The prognosis is too early to say," Liverpool manager Arne Slot said. "We all know Mo – he hates leaving the pitch.
If we were 6-0 and I took him off two minutes before the end, he'd still be thinking 'I could have scored two more'." The win allowed Liverpool to overtake Aston Villa on goal difference after Villa's loss to Fulham, putting the Reds level with Manchester United and extending their lead over Brighton to eight points. Anfield's atmosphere was electric but also chaotic.
Thousands of fans displayed yellow cards to protest upcoming ticket‑price hikes, and a penalty awarded to Palace was later overturned after a VAR review. Salah broke through on goal and was brought down by Brennan Johnson, prompting referee Andy Madley to point to the spot.
However, VAR showed Johnson had only grazed the ball, and the penalty was rescinded. Isak then capitalised on a rebound from an Alexis Mac Allister effort, nudging the ball over goalkeeper Dean Henderson and into the right‑hand corner for his first Premier League goal at Anfield. Woodman, making his first start in place of the injured Giorgi Mamardashvili and Alisson, performed admirably, denying Jean‑Philippe Mateta twice in quick succession.
The second save sparked a Liverpool counter‑attack that ended with Curtis Jones laying the ball off to Robertson, who finished with composure in what could be one of his final Anfield appearances. Palace struggled to find a way past Woodman in the first half, with Maxence Lacroix's header being blocked by a combination of Woodman and the right post. The second half was defined by injuries. Salah, after a trademark run, collapsed with a hamstring complaint and received a standing ovation from the crowd.
Woodman then appeared to injure his knee while making a save from Sarr, only for Muñoz to lob the ball over his head and into the net. Despite the setback, the third‑choice keeper stayed on the field and narrowly avoided conceding an equaliser when substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen's shot struck the inside of the left post. Wirtz later ensured the three points by smashing a shot off the woodwork and into the net in the dying minutes.
Liverpool's line‑up featured Woodman in goal, a back four of Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk and Robertson, with Mac Allister and Jones in midfield. Salah, Wirtz and Gakpo formed the attacking trio, while Isak came off the bench to score.
Palace's side included Henderson between the sticks, a defence of Richards, Lacroix, Canvot and others, and an attack featuring Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada and Sarr. After the match, Robertson reflected on Muñoz's goal: "I was the closest player to him, and I think he didn't even look up until he hit the ball. It was lucky for us that the referee didn't award a penalty, otherwise the game could have been 2-2." Woodman described his own injury: "The pitch was very dry and my knee got stuck in the ground.
I felt pain inside my knee and wasn't sure whether to get up or stay down. It was a confusing moment, but fortunately it didn't cost us the game." Slot commented on the controversial goal: "Because of the Palace goal the match became much more tense. I don't think we deserved to concede in that manner, but Palace were more dangerous than the 2‑0 scoreline suggested. The way we gave up the goal was unexpected, and it raised questions about the referee's decisions." He added, "There have been many times when a player is down and the referee whistles for play to continue.
We don't fake injuries; if someone is on the ground, something serious has happened. The referee should have stopped the game when Woodman was injured." Palace manager Oliver Glasner defended his team's reaction to the goal: "We spoke with the fourth official and Arne Slot after the incident.
If the keeper hadn't gotten up, we would have had to substitute and could have faced a serious injury situation. The referee's decision to continue was not clear, but we think it was the right call in the end." The result keeps Liverpool in the chase for a top‑four finish and maintains pressure on Manchester United and Arsenal.
However, the potential loss of Salah for the remainder of the season adds a significant variable to their title aspirations. If the Egyptian forward recovers quickly, his experience and goal‑scoring prowess could still prove decisive in the final stretch. If not, Liverpool will need to rely on the depth of their attacking options, including the emerging talents of Isak and the creative spark of Wirtz, to secure the points needed for a Champions League spot. Overall, the match was a microcosm of Liverpool's season: moments of brilliance, contentious decisions, and the looming question of how the squad will adapt to the possible departure of one of its biggest stars.
The club's ability to navigate these challenges will shape their campaign in the crucial weeks ahead.