Liverpool climbed to fourth in the Premier League after a 3-1 triumph over Crystal Palace, but the victory was tinged with uncertainty as Mohamed Salah may have played his last match for the Reds. Alexander Isak broke his goal‑scoring drought with his first strike since December, and Andy Robertson added a second before Palace pulled one back in a contentious fashion when Daniel Muñoz lofted the ball over a struggling Freddie Woodman. Florian Wirtz then sealed the win with a stoppage‑time finish. The win also marked a pivotal moment for Salah, who has confirmed that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season after nine years.
Early in the second half, the Egyptian forward collapsed just before the hour mark, clutching his left hamstring. The injury cast a shadow over the remaining four league fixtures, leaving fans and the coaching staff unsure whether the star will be available. Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach, was cautious in his assessment.
"It’s too early to give a prognosis," he said. "We all know Mo – he hates leaving the pitch.
Even if we were 6-0 and I took him off two minutes from the end, he would still be thinking ‘I could have scored two more’. His decision to go down tells us something, but we need to wait and see how serious it is." The victory allowed Liverpool to overtake Aston Villa on goal difference after Villa’s loss to Fulham on Saturday, putting Liverpool level with Manchester United and extending their lead over sixth‑placed Brighton to eight points. The match at Anfield was eventful from the start, with thousands of supporters brandishing yellow cards to protest a proposed ticket‑price increase, and a penalty initially awarded to Palace later overturned after a VAR review. Salah’s early involvement was dramatic.
He broke through the defense and was brought down by a sliding challenge from Brennan Johnson. Referee Andy Madley initially pointed to the spot, but a VAR check showed Johnson had made contact with the ball, leading Madley to rescind the penalty. Liverpool responded swiftly.
Alexander Isak, who had been quiet for months, intercepted a wayward Alexis Mac Allister effort and redirected the ball over Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson into the right‑hand corner, securing his first Premier League goal at Anfield. Freddie Woodman, making his first start for Liverpool after injuries to Giorgi Mamardashvili and Alisson, performed admirably, denying Jean‑Philippe Mateta twice in quick succession. The second save sparked a Liverpool counter‑attack that culminated in Curtis Jones delivering a low pass to Robertson, who calmly finished to make it 2-0.
Palace struggled to find a way past Woodman in the first half. Maxence Lacroix’s header was blocked by a combination of the goalkeeper and the right post. The second half, however, was defined by injuries. Salah, after completing a trademark run into the box, collapsed with a hamstring complaint and received a standing ovation from the Anfield crowd.
Shortly thereafter, Woodman appeared to injure his knee while making a save from Sarr, only for Muñoz to lob the ball over his outstretched arms and into the net, reducing the lead to 2-1. The third‑choice goalkeeper managed to stay on the field, and Palace came close to equalising when substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen’s shot 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 stoppage time. The post‑match lineup saw Woodman in goal, with Szoboszlai, Konate, Van Dijk and Robertson forming the back line.
In midfield, Mac Allister and Jones operated alongside Salah, Wirtz and Gakpo, while Isak completed the forward line. Substitutes included Frimpong, Gravenberch, Gomez and Kerkez. Palace’s starting XI featured Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Canvot, Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Johnson, Mateta and Sarr, with Sosa, Pino and Strand Larsen on the bench. Andy Robertson was named Player of the Match.
Robertson reflected on the controversial goal: "To be fair to the boy (Muñoz), I was the closest player and I don’t think he looked up until he struck the ball. He probably only saw Freddie getting back on his feet after the shot. In a game like this you hope the referee doesn’t punish you because it could have been 2-2 right after. I don’t blame anyone; it’s part of football." Woodman described his own injury: "The grass was very dry and my knee got stuck in the ground.
I felt pain on the inside of my knee and wasn’t sure whether to get up and hobble towards the goal or stay down. It was a vague situation – I thought the game would stop, but luckily it didn’t cost us." Slot addressed the defensive lapse that led to Palace’s goal: "Because of the Palace goal the match became a lot more nervy and I don’t think we deserved to concede in that manner. Palace were more in the game than the 2-0 score suggested, so it wasn’t a complete surprise they could score in the second half.
The way we conceded wasn’t what we expected." He also criticised inconsistent officiating: "There are many games where we’re in a promising position and a player is on the floor, yet the referee blows for simulation. We have always tried to be a fair team – we don’t go down unless something is genuinely wrong. When a player is seriously injured the referee must stop play." Palace manager Oliver Glasner defended his side’s reaction to the disputed goal: "We consulted the fourth official, Arne Slot and Virgil van Dijk after the incident.
We reviewed the footage. The keeper got up; if he hadn’t and needed to be substituted, the goal could have been a serious injury situation. The ball went to Daniel Muñoz and the keeper raised his arm – he may not have seen it.
The referee must stop the game if he believes there is a serious injury, but the decision was ultimately correct." Overall, the match provided a mixture of drama, controversy and a glimpse of what may be Salah’s final appearance in a Liverpool shirt. With four games remaining, the club must manage his recovery while maintaining pressure on the title race. The win solidifies Liverpool’s position near the top of the table, but the lingering question of Salah’s fitness adds an element of uncertainty as the season draws to a close.