Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace: Goals from Alexander Isak, Andy Robertson and Florian Wirtz move the Reds into fourth place, but Mo Salah could have played his last game for the club
Mo Salah left the match clutching his left hamstring (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Liverpool moved up to fourth place in the Premier League with three consecutive wins, but Mohamed Salah’s injury put a damper on their success. The Reds beat a bogey-bound Crystal Palace, who had won three times this season, but lost Salah to an apparent hamstring injury.
Alexander Isak put Liverpool ahead with a shot into the corner after the home side had a penalty canceled by VAR for Brennan Johnson’s tackle on Salah. Liverpool then showed a glimpse of their past with Andy Robertson’s perfect shot into the bottom corner of a thorough counter-attack.
In what could be his last game for the club, things changed when Salah was forced off with an apparent hamstring injury. Palace then got a goal back in bizarre and controversial fashion, with Daniel Muñoz hitting an unguarded net after Freddie Woodman was injured.
Jorgen Strand Larsen almost made it 2-2 with a goal, but his shot hit the post and rolled over the line. There were a few more tense moments, but Florian Wirtz sealed the point with a fine stoppage-time goal as Liverpool looked on to leapfrog Aston Villa in the Premier League table and strengthen their bid to qualify for next season’s Champions League. Here’s what’s hot from Anfield:
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read more: Liverpool get a clear VAR decision after Mo Salah’s diving penalty is canceledread more: Liverpool fans protest owner’s plans, show emotion with brutal chants
1. VAR got one right.
In this day and age of online anger and polarization, VAR has been forgotten, but every once in a while we are reminded of why it was first introduced. When referee Andy Madrid pointed to the spot, Johnson must have been relieved that VAR would kick in and save his skin.
Salah’s reaction suggested he was not convinced it was a penalty, and replays showed Johnson hit his toe on the ball as he slid in to stop the Egyptian. It was a simple fall that served as a reminder of the power of technology as Madeley was sent to the pitchside monitor.
Penalty decision overturned by VAR (Image: AFP/Getty Images)
2. Isaac finally got his points back.
Isaac cost Liverpool £125m. His redshirt debut was nothing short of a disaster. Injuries and lack of fitness have dented his ambitions to hit the ground running with his new team. But with Hugo Ekitike out with a serious injury, he was finally ready and his turn came.
His first goal since Dec. 20, and his fourth in 21 games this season, was anything but pretty. His first touch on Alexis Mac Allister’s shot cushioned the ball perfectly and his shot just happened to ricochet off the ground and past Dean Henderson’s dive. It was Liverpool’s first league win at Anfield and fans will be hoping for many firsts.
Alexander Isak scores his first goal of 2026 (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
3. Woodman steps up
Alison isn’t there. There is no Giorgi Mamadashvili. no problem. When Woodman joined Liverpool from Preston in the summer, he would have hoped to get his chance but must have known it might never come.
When it happened, he stood up while playing against the team he grew up rooting for in south London. Liverpool’s second fight-back began with Woodman making a low save from Jean-Philippe Mateta’s header, and at half-time he made it 2-0 by pushing away Maxence Lacroix’s back-post header.
The match started in a tense atmosphere at Anfield, with fans holding up yellow cards and protesting against ticket price hikes, but there was a party atmosphere in the second half with chants of “England number one!” It turned.
Freddie Woodman was good in the first half (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
4. Salah left with injury
The celebratory mood was affected when Salah collapsed holding the back of his left leg after taking an innocuous attack on the edge of the Palace box. The referee waved off a half-hearted appeal for a free kick and signaled Salah to the bench.
Medical staff rushed onto the pitch and after examining Salah, he was sent off to applause from the home fans and replaced by Jeremy Frimpong. With just four games left in the season, there are fears this will be his last appearance for the club before leaving this summer.
Arne Slott speaks to Mo Salah as he walks away (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
5. Palace’s controversial goal
The visitors took the game back in bizarre fashion when, with Woodman down, Muñoz attacked a quiet Liverpool defence, making it 2-1. Liverpool were furious at Palace who continued to play while their goalkeeper was down after saving a one-on-one, but defender Arne Slott was held responsible for failing to defend the goal.
Officials only called off games in case of a head injury, and Woodman was able to continue, so Slott didn’t have to rely on a fourth-choice goaltender.
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