Liverpool moved up to fourth in the Premier League after a 3–1 victory over Crystal Palace at the weekend, but the win came with concern after Mohamed Salah limped off injured.
After a slow start that was interrupted by fan protests over proposed ticket price increases, Liverpool thought they had earned an early penalty when Salah went down under a challenge from Brennan Johnson.
However, VAR overturned the decision, ruling that Johnson had made a clean contact with the ball.
The breakthrough eventually arrived when Alexander Isak reacted quickest to a loose effort from Alexis Mac Allister, controlling the ball smartly before finishing to give the hosts the lead.
Freddie Woodman then played a crucial role in goal, producing a series of sharp saves to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta twice, with Liverpool immediately punishing Palace on the break as Andy Robertson fired a precise low strike into the bottom corner to double the advantage.
Palace continued to press and Woodman again came up big before the break, stopping Maxence Lacroix from close range.
However, Liverpool’s momentum was dampened shortly before the hour mark when Salah was forced off with a suspected hamstring injury.
The visitors did manage to pull one back in controversial fashion when Daniel Muñoz finished into an empty net after Woodman went down injured during a save attempt from Ismaila Sarr.
The closing stages became tense, with substitute Jørgen Strand Larsen striking the post as Palace pushed for an equaliser.
But Liverpool eventually sealed the result in stoppage time when Florian Wirtz calmly finished to secure all three points and strengthen Arne Slot’s side in the Champions League race.
