Key Takeaways
- Mohamed Salah left the pitch clutching his hamstring after 59 minutes of Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.
- Alexander Isak scored his first Anfield league goal before Andy Robertson and Florian Wirtz sealed victory.
- Supporters held up yellow cards and chanted against owners Fenway Sports Group over planned ticket-price rises.
Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 3-1 on Sunday but lost top scorer Mohamed Salah to a hamstring injury that could end his final season at the club.
The Egypt forward waved to all four stands before heading straight down the tunnel on 59 minutes, holding the back of his left thigh.
Outside and inside Anfield, thousands of fans protested against the owners’ plan to raise ticket prices for the next three years. Yellow cards were lifted high while the chant “You greedy bastards, enough is enough” rang around the ground.
On the pitch, Arne Slot’s team moved closer to Champions League qualification with a hard-fought victory.
Palace began brightly. Adam Wharton ran midfield and Jean-Philippe Mateta pinned Liverpool’s centre-backs, allowing Ismaïla Sarr and Brennan Johnson to threaten in wide areas.
The visitors thought they had conceded a penalty when Johnson appeared to trip Salah, but referee Andy Madley reversed his decision after a pitch-side review showed the Palace man touched the ball first.
The let-off stirred Liverpool. Five minutes later they led. Salah brushed off Jaydee Canvot and crossed; Chris Richards’ weak clearance fell to Alexis Mac Allister, whose miscued shot was steered home by Alexander Isak for his first Premier League goal at Anfield.
A swift counter made it two. Third-choice keeper Freddie Woodman, facing the club he supported as a boy, brilliantly denied Mateta. Liverpool broke through Ibrahima Konaté, Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones. Jones, again filling in at right-back, slid an inch-perfect pass to Andy Robertson, who raced clear and finished low into the far corner.
Palace pulled one back in controversial fashion. Woodman injured his knee while smothering Sarr’s shot and lay stricken. Instead of putting the ball out, Daniel Muñoz chipped into an empty net. Liverpool players and staff argued with the Palace bench, and Muñoz was booed thereafter.
The visitors almost levelled when Jørgen Strand Larsen hit both posts, but deep in added time Wirtz lashed in a third after Mac Allister’s clever touch.
Slot’s side climb to second, yet Salah’s fitness will dominate the headlines ahead of the run-in.
